The Arkansas Department of Health reported nine new COVID-19 cases in Union County Saturday, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 1,116. The cases in the county Saturday included 1,001 confirmed cases, up five from Friday, and 115 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.
No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Saturday. Forty-nine 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, 110 people were hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 47 in intensive care units and 20 on ventilator support.
Two new recoveries were reported locally Saturday, making 1,011 Union County residents considered recovered from the virus. Active cases in the county increased to 56, up seven from Friday and representing 5% of all the cases identified locally. The active cases in the county Saturday included 34 confirmed cases and 22 probable cases.
The Arkansas Center for Health Improvements released city-level COVID data updated through Oct. 19 this week. In cities where fewer than 10 COVID-19 cases have been identified, the number of cases is not enumerated in order to protect the privacy of those who have tested positive.
According to the ACHI, as of Oct. 19, 768 COVID-19 cases had been identified in El Dorado, including 41 new cases in preceding two weeks, representing 2% of the city’s population; 23 cases had been identified in Huttig, representing 2% of the city’s population; 76 cases had been identified in Junction City, representing 3% of the city’s population; 52 cases had been identified in Smackover, representing 2% of the city’s population; and 58 cases had been identified in Strong, representing 3% of the city’s population.
Fewer than 10 cases had also been identified in Calion, Lawson, Mount Holly and Norphlet by Oct. 19, according to the ACHI.
The ADH reported 31 new negative tests returned from Union County Saturday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 22.5% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 12,625 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 11,509 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 8.8%.
In Arkansas, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases grew to 105,318 Saturday, up 1,183 from Friday. There were 98,213 confirmed cases in the state Saturday, up 874 from Friday, and 7,105 probable cases, up 309 from Friday.
There were 93,977 Arkansans considered recovered Saturday, up 762 from Friday. Active cases in the state rose by 406 to reach 9,535, a record number of active cases for the state, representing 9% of all the cases in the state. The active cases in Arkansas Saturday included 7,912 confirmed cases and 1,623 probable cases.
The ADH reported the deaths of 15 Arkansans Saturday, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,797, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.7%. There were 606 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 242 in ICUs and 94 on ventilator support.
Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 1,326,523 results have returned to the ADH, including 1,220,419 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 7.9%.
At 4:15 p.m. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University reported 8,560,888 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 3,375,427 people were considered recovered, leaving 4,960,751 cases — 57.9% — active nationwide. There had been 224,710 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Saturday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.6%.
Johns Hopkins reported 42,457,887 COVID-19 cases worldwide Saturday afternoon. Of those, 28,633,160 people were considered recovered, leaving 12,677,270 cases — 29.9% — active around the world. There had been 1,147,457 deaths attributable to the virus by Saturday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.7%.