The Arkansas Department of Health reported seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Union County Thursday, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified in the county to 755.
Of those, 690 were considered recovered, up nine from Wednesday. Active cases dropped to 40, representing 5.3% of the cumulative cases in the county.
No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Thursday. Twenty-five Union County residents have died as a result of the virus.
Three Union County residents were reported to have died as a result of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Dr. Jose Romero, ADH secretary, said that day that of the eleven COVID-related deaths reported statewide, seven were traced to nursing home outbreaks, including one in El Dorado. An ADH spokesperson said the nursing home in question was Timberlane Health and Rehab.
No new nursing home reports have been published on the ADH website since Sept. 4. The ADH spokesperson said the department staff that typically produces the reports have been shifted to assist with a nursing home testing initiative that is ongoing this month.
The ADH reported nine new negative test results returned from Union County Thursday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 43.8% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 8,279 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 7,524 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9.1%.
Arkansas’ number of confirmed COVID-19 cases grew by 398 to reach a cumulative total of 66,804 cases Thursday. Of those, 60,668 were considered recovered, leaving 5,196 cases — 7.8% of the cumulative total — active statewide.
Twelve Arkansans’ COVID-related deaths were reported Thursday, bringing the state’s death toll to 940, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.4%. There were 19 fewer Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Thursday than were Wednesday, 392 in all; and three fewer Arkansans on ventilator support Thursday, 79 in all.
The ADH reported 4,900 new PCR test results Thursday, indicating a one-day positivity rate for the state of 8.1% based on the number of new cases and results reported. So far in September, 61,392 PCR COVID-19 test results have returned to the ADH.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson reported that 430 antigen tests were performed between Wednesday and Thursday, with 70 positive results, indicating a one-day positivity rate of 16.3%. In September, 4,513 antigen COVID tests have been reported. In all, 468 positive test results returned Thursday, between the 70 presumed positives (antigen results) and 398 confirmed cases (PCR results).
Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 796,179 PCR results have returned to the ADH, including 729,375 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 8.4%.
At 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Johns Hopkins reported 6,377,540 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 2,387,479 were considered recovered, leaving 3,838,701 cases — 60.2% — active nationwide. There had been 191,360 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by early Thursday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 3%.
Johns Hopkins reported 27,962,101 COVID-19 cases worldwide Thursday afternoon. Of those, 18,820,738 were considered recovered, leaving 8,235,893 cases — 29.5% — active around the world. There had been 905,470 deaths attributable to the virus by early Thursday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 3.2%.