The Arkansas Department of Health reported only one new COVID-19 case in Union County Sunday, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 840. There were 825 confirmed cases in that total, no change from Saturday; and 15 probable cases, up one from Saturday.
Confirmed cases are determined by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, which, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control, are more sensitive than antigen tests, which determine probable cases.
The number of recoveries in the county increased Sunday to reach 783, up six from Saturday. Six people with probable cases and 777 with confirmed cases were considered recovered Sunday.
Active cases dropped again Sunday, to 25, down five from Saturday and representing 3% of all the cases that have been identified locally. The number of active cases in the county was made up of 21 confirmed cases of the virus and four probable cases.
No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Sunday. Thirty-one Union County residents have died as a result of the virus.
On Tuesday, a flu vaccine clinic will be held at the Union County Health Unit from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The vaccine will be available to those without health insurance free of charge, and those with insurance are asked to bring their insurance cards.
Health officials have urged everyone who is able to get a flu shot this year. Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, director of immunizations for the ADH, said earlier this year it is particularly important to inoculate oneself from the flu so that hospital space can be kept open for COVID patients.
“The flu should not be taken lightly,” Dillaha said. “We are encouraging everyone to get a flu shot to protect themselves and their families, because it is hard to predict in advance how severe the flu season is going to be.”
The ADH reported one new negative test result returned from Union County Sunday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 50% based on the new cases and results reported. In all, 8,677 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 7,837 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9.7%.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas grew by 563 to reach a cumulative total of 75,723 Sunday. There had been 73,690 confirmed cases identified in the state by Sunday, up 549 from Saturday; and 2,033 probable cases, up 14 from Saturday.
There were 67,853 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus on Sunday. The number of active cases in the state grew to reach 6,685 Sunday, representing 8.8% of all the cases identified in the state. The number of active cases in Arkansas Sunday was made up of 6,256 confirmed cases and 429 probable cases.
No COVID-related deaths were reported in Arkansas Sunday. There have been 1,181 Arkansans that have died as a result of the virus.
There were 404 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Sunday, including 212 in intensive care units and 83 on ventilator support. In the Southwest Public Health Region, where Union County is located, 80 people were hospitalized, including 41 in ICUs and 19 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 889,200 total COVID-19 test results returned Sunday, including 813,315 negatives, indicating a positivity rate for the state of 8.5%.
At 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Johns Hopkins University reported 6,792,075 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 2,577,446 were considered recovered, leaving 4,015,148 cases — 59.1% — active nationwide. There had been 199,481 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Sunday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.9%.
Johns Hopkins reported 30,878,600 COVID-19 cases worldwide Sunday afternoon. Of those, 21,104,512 were considered recovered, leaving 8,815,625 cases — 28.5% — active around the world. There had been 958,463 deaths attributable to the virus by Sunday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 3.1%.