The Arkansas Department of Health reported two new COVID-19 cases in Union County Sunday, bringing the cumulative number of cases identified locally to 1,118. The cases in the county Sunday included 1,002 confirmed cases, up one from Saturday, and 116 probable cases, up one from Saturday.
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.
Three new recoveries were reported locally Sunday, making 1,014 Union County residents considered recovered from the virus. There were 55 active cases in the county Sunday, down one from Saturday and representing 4.9% of all the cases identified locally. Active cases in the county Sunday included 34 confirmed cases and 21 probable cases.
The Arkansas Center for Health Improvements reported school district-level COVID data updated through Oct. 19 this week. The data lists all the cases identified in a school district’s catchment area and is not limited to cases identified in a school district’s staff, faculty or students.
According to the ACHI, by Oct. 19, 621 COVID-19 cases had been identified in the El Dorado School District’s catchment area, including 13 new cases in the past two weeks; 97 cases had been identified in the Junction City School District’s catchment area, including six new cases in the past two weeks; 50 cases had been identified in the Parkers Chapel School District’s catchment area; 114 cases had been identified in the Smackover-Norphlet School District’s catchment area, including 10 new cases in the past two weeks; and 82 cases had been identified in the Strong-Huttig School District’s catchment area.
Congregate settings and nursing home reports produced by the ADH and dated Oct. 2, showed several active cases in such facilities in Union County. According to the ADH’s latest congregate settings report, one active resident case had been identified at Community Living Arrangements. The facility previously reported nine resident cases and five worker cases; besides the one active case identified there last week, all residents and workers there are considered recovered.
According to the latest nursing home report, Advanced Health and Rehab of Union County reported six active resident cases along with one resident’s death; 10 residents there have contracted the virus, with three having recovered, and 14 workers there have contracted the virus, all of whom have recovered.
At Courtyard Healthcare and Rehabilitation, there were three active resident cases and three active worker cases as of Oct. 23, according to the ADH report. A previous outbreak at the facility left seven residents dead, while 30 other residents and 31 workers are considered recovered from the virus.
At Hudson Memorial Nursing Home, eight residents and two workers had active cases of COVID-19 on Oct. 23. In total, 66 residents of Hudson have contracted COVID-19, with 38 considered recovered and 20 having died as a result of the virus. Thirty-six workers have also contracted the virus, according to the ADH report, and 34 are considered recovered.
No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Sunday. Forty-nine Union County residents have died as a result of the virus. In the Southwest Public Health Region, where Union County is located, 116 people were hospitalized due to the virus Sunday, including 49 in intensive care units and 19 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 19 new negative test results returned from Union County Sunday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 9.5% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 12,646 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 11,528 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 8.8%.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas grew to 106,115 Sunday, up 797 from Saturday. The cases in the state Sunday included 98,880 confirmed cases, up 667 from Saturday, and 7,235 probable cases, up 130 from Saturday.
There were 94,528 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus Sunday, up 551 from Saturday. Active cases in the state hit a new high Sunday, reaching 9,766, up 231 from Saturday and representing 9.2% of all the cases identified in the state. The active cases in Arkansas Sunday included 8,113 confirmed cases and 1,653 probable cases.
The deaths of 15 Arkansans that resulted from COVID-19 were reported Sunday, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,812, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.7%. There were 618 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Sunday, including 244 in ICUs and 91 on ventilator support.
Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 1,334,772 test results have returned to the ADH, including 1,227,861 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 8%.
At 5 p.m. Sunday, Johns Hopkins University reported 8,627,274 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 3,406,656 people were considered recovered, leaving 4,989,421 cases — 57.8% — active nationwide. There had been 225,197 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Sunday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.6%.
Johns Hopkins reported 42,886,463 COVID-19 cases worldwide Sunday afternoon. Of those, 28,854,121 people were considered recovered, leaving 12,880,019 cases — 30% — active around the world. There had been 1,152,323 deaths attributable to the virus by Sunday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.7%.