The Arkansas Department of Health reported twelve new COVID-19 cases in Union County Saturday, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 1,069. The cases in the county Saturday included 975 confirmed cases, up eight from Friday, and 94 probable cases, up four from Friday.
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.
Six new recoveries were reported locally Saturday, making 982 Union County residents considered recovered from the virus. Active cases in the county grew to 40, up six from Friday and representing 3.7% of all the cases identified locally. The active cases in the county Saturday included 27 confirmed cases and 13 probable cases.
No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Saturday. 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, 108 people were hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 40 in intensive care units and 21 on ventilator support.
The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement released city-level COVID-19 data updated through Oct. 12 this week. Cities with 10 or more cases are shown with their caseloads enumerated, while those where fewer than 10 COVID-19 cases have been identified are listed without numbers to protect the privacy of those who have tested positive.
According to the ACHI, as of Oct. 12, 721 COVID-19 cases had been identified in El Dorado, representing 2% of the city’s population, with 54 new cases identified within the two week period preceding Oct. 12; 23 cases had been identified in Huttig, representing 2% of the population; 74 cases had been identified in Junction City, representing 3% of the population; 47 cases had been identified in Smackover, representing 2% of the population; and 54 cases had been identified in Strong, representing 3% of the population.
Fewer than 10 cases have also been identified in Calion, Lawson, Mount Holly and Norphlet, according to the ACHI.
The ADH reported 20 new negative tests returned from Union County Saturday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 37.5% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 11,826 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 10,757 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9%.
In Arkansas, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases grew to 98,422 Saturday, up 883 from Friday. There were 92,827 confirmed cases in the state Saturday, up 710 from Friday, and 5,595 probable cases, up 173 from Friday.
The ADH reported the deaths of 19 Arkansans Saturday, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,684, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.7%. There were 573 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 236 in ICUs and 92 on ventilator support.
There were 87,920 Arkansans considered recovered Saturday, up 664 from Friday. Active cases in the state rose by 201 to reach 8,810, representing 9% of all the cases in the state. Saturday also represented the third day in a row the number of active cases in the state have set a new record. The active cases in Arkansas Saturday included 7,555 confirmed cases and 1,255 probable cases.
Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 1,243,038 results have returned to the ADH, including 1,144,019 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 7.9%.
At 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University reported 8,086,780 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 3,197,539 people were considered recovered, leaving 4,670,261 cases — 57.8% — active nationwide. There had been 218,980 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Saturday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.7%.
Johns Hopkins reported 39,502,909 COVID-19 cases worldwide Saturday afternoon. Of those, 27,150,902 people were considered recovered, leaving 11,245,302 cases — 28.5% — active around the world. There had been 1,106,705 deaths attributable to the virus by Saturday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.8%.