The Arkansas Department of Health reported 21 new COVID-19 cases in Union County Thursday, bringing the cumulative number of cases identified locally to 1,049. There were 962 confirmed cases in the county Thursday, up 13 from Wednesday, and 87 probable cases, up eight from Wednesday.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests that determine confirmed cases are more sensitive than the antigen tests that determine probable cases.
Nineteen new recoveries were reported locally Thursday, making 963 total Union County residents considered recovered from the virus. Active cases rose by two to 39 Thursday, representing 3.7% of all the cases identified locally. The active cases in the county Thursday included 23 confirmed cases and 16 probable cases.
No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Thursday. Forty-seven Union County residents have died as a result of the virus. In the Southwest Public Health Region of the state, where Union County is located, 100 people were hospitalized due to the virus Thursday, including 45 in intensive care units and 22 on ventilator support.
A report produced by the ADH Thursday on COVID-19 in educational institutions around the state showed five active cases in the El Dorado School District. According to the report, 34 cases have been identified in the ESD in total, including 10 in faculty or staff members and 24 in students. The report also listed five active cases at South Arkansas Community College out of 21 total cases identified there. In a press release from Oct. 1, SouthArk reported 24 total cases identified at the college, including 21 students and three employees.
The ADH reported 153 new negative test results returned from Union County Thursday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 12.1% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 11,683 COVID-19 test results have returned to the ADH from Union County, including 10,634 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9%.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas grew to 96,524 Thursday, an increase of 1,278 from Wednesday, setting a new one-day record in case growth for the state. The cases in the state Thursday included 91,303 confirmed cases, up 1,068 from Wednesday, and 5,221 probable cases, up 210 from Wednesday.
The ADH reported the deaths of 11 Arkansans that were caused by COVID-19 Thursday, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,645 and indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.7%. There were 587 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Thursday, including 236 in the ICU and 103 on ventilator support.
There were 86,447 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus on Thursday, up 850 from Wednesday. Active cases reached a new high at 8,424 Thursday, up 417 from Wednesday and representing 8.7% of all the cases in the state. There were 7,272 confirmed cases considered active in Arkansas Thursday and 1,152 probable cases considered active.
Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 1,218,743 results have returned to the ADH, including 1,121,651 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 7.9%.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, Johns Hopkins University reported 7,972,886 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 3,155,826 people were considered recovered, leaving 4,599,339 cases — 57.7% — active nationwide. There had been 217,721 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Thursday evening, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.7%.
Johns Hopkins reported 38,786,328 COVID-19 cases worldwide Thursday evening. Of those, 26,779,298 people were considered recovered, leaving 10,911,027 cases — 28.1% — active around the world. There had been 1,096,003 deaths attributable to the virus by Wednesday evening, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.8%.