Eleven new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported for Union County Saturday, making 780 confirmed cases identified in the county in all. Along with those, five probable positive cases were reported by the Arkansas Department of Health, making 785 total cases reported for the county.
The number of confirmed cases reflect positive results from PCR COVID-19 tests, while probable or presumed positive cases reflect positive results from antigen, or quick-result, COVID-19 tests. ADH Secretary Dr. Jose Romero said positive results from antigen tests are trustworthy; however, antigen tests are known to produce some false-negative results.
The number of recoveries among Union County residents who have had confirmed cases of the virus grew by four to reach 705 Saturday. One person with a probable positive case is also considered recovered. In all, 706 of the 775 people who have contracted the virus are considered to be recovered.
Active confirmed cases increased to 49 Saturday, up six from Friday. They represented 6.3% of all the confirmed cases in the county. Four of the presumed positive cases identified locally were considered active Saturday, representing 80% of the presumed positive cases in the county. In all, 53 cases were considered active Saturday, representing 6.8% of all the cases in the county.
The ADH did not report any new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 on Saturday. Twenty-five Union County residents have died as a result of the virus.
According to the ADH, 38 total antigen tests have been reported from Union County, including nine positive results, indicating an overall local positivity rate among those who have been antigen tested for the virus of 23.7%.
The ADH reported 31 new negative PCR test results Saturday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate among residents PCR tested for the virus of 26.2%. In all, 8,363 PCR test results have returned from Union County, including 7,583 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate among those PCR tested for the virus of 9.3%.
Counting both PCR and antigen test results, 8,401 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 7,612 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate among all those tested for the virus of 9.3%.
A nursing home report produced by the ADH Friday showed several new COVID-19 cases in local nursing homes. Every nursing home in El Dorado has now reported cases of the virus.
According to the report, at Advanced Health and Rehab of Union County, three new resident cases were identified last week, and all remain active; while two new worker cases were identified, both of which remain active. Four workers there have recovered from the virus.
At Courtyard Healthcare and Rehabilitation, one worker case was identified over the last week, and their case remains active. During a previous outbreak at the facility, 35 residents contracted the virus, and seven died as a result, while 28 other residents and 22 workers recovered.
At Hudson Memorial Nursing Home, nine new resident cases were identified over the last week, and now 29 resident cases remain active there. Four new worker cases were also identified, and remain active, while nine other workers have reportedly recovered from the virus.
At Oak Ridge Health and Rehabilitation, one worker was diagnosed with the virus, and their case remains active.
At Timberlane Health and Rehab, 11 resident cases have been identified, and one resident has died as a result of the virus, according to the report. Ten resident cases remain active, and eight workers have recovered from the virus.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arkansas grew by 631 to reach 68,542 Saturday. There have also been 1,168 presumed positive cases reported. The cumulative total of cases, both confirmed and presumed, was 69,710 Saturday.
According to the ADH, 62,622 cases were considered recovered Saturday. There were 6,115 total active cases, including 5,755 confirmed active cases, which represented 8.4% of all the confirmed cases identified in Arkansas, and 360 presumed active cases, which represented 30.8% of all the presumed positive cases identified in the state. The cumulative total of active cases represented 8.8% of the cumulative total of cases in Arkansas Saturday.
Eleven Arkansans’ COVID-related deaths were reported Saturday, bringing the state’s death toll to 964, indicating a state COVID mortality rate for the state of 1.4%. Five deaths in the state have been among those with presumed positive cases. According to the ADH, 325 Arkansans were hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 170 state residents who were in intensive care units.
At 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University reported 6,474,487 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 2,417,878 were considered recovered, leaving 3,863,127 cases — 59.7% — active nationwide. There had been 193,482 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Saturday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 3%.
Johns Hopkins reported 28,584,459 COVID-19 cases worldwide Saturday afternoon. Of those, 19,268,205 were considered recovered, leaving 8,399,071 cases — 29.4% — active around the world. There had been 917,183 deaths attributable to the virus by Saturday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 3.2%.