Health Report

16 new COVID cases reported, active cases rise

The Arkansas Department of Health reported 16 new COVID-19 cases in Union County Thursday, bringing the cumulative number of cases identified locally to 874. The new cases reported were all confirmed cases, which total 854 now. Twenty probable cases also contributed to the cumulative total.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests that confirmed cases are determined by are more sensitive than the antigen tests that determine probable cases.

The ADH reported 20 new negative test results returned from Union County Thursday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 44.4% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 8,825 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 7,951 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9.9%.

No new local deaths attributable to COVID-19 were reported Thursday. Thirty-two Union County residents have died as a result of the virus.

Ten recoveries were reported in Union County Thursday, bringing the number of local residents considered recovered from the virus to 808. Active cases rose by six to reach 33 Thursday, representing 3.8% of the cumulative total of cases in the county. Local active cases were made up of 28 confirmed cases and five probable cases Thursday.

A nursing home report detailing COVID-19 cases in the state produced by the ADH on Thursday reported five active cases, three residents and two workers, along with four recovered workers, at Advanced Health and Rehab of Union County; 65 active cases, 47 residents and 18 workers, along with 13 recovered workers and five residents whose status was not included at Hudson Memorial Nursing Home; one active worker case at Oak Ridge Health and Rehab; and four active resident cases, along with eight recovered workers and seven other residents whose status was not included at Timberlane Health and Rehab.

An ADH spokesperson said the large discrepancy between the number of active cases listed on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, where cases, recoveries, deaths, testing and hospital information is reported, and the nursing home report is due to a difference in the recovery standards for those living in nursing homes and those who do not.

In the Southwest Public Health Region, where Union County is located, 84 people were hospitalized due to the virus, including 40 in intensive care units and 27 on ventilator support.

The cumulative number of cases in Arkansas grew to 79,049 Thursday, up 1,086 from Wednesday. The cumulative total was made up of 76,676 confirmed cases, up 1,030 from Wednesday; and 2,373 probable cases, up 56 from Wednesday.

The deaths of 17 Arkansans that were caused by COVID-19 were reported Thursday, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,246, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.6%. There were 450 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Thursday, including 216 in ICUs and 97 on ventilator support.

There were 70,737 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus on Thursday. Active cases in the state grew to reach 7,061, up 284 from Wednesday and representing 8.9%. The active cases in Arkansas Thursday were made up of 6,672 confirmed cases and 389 probable cases.

Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 928,335 results have returned from around the state, including 849,093 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state 8.5%.

At 6 p.m. Thursday, Johns Hopkins University reported 6,971,871 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 2,670,256 were considered recovered, leaving 4,098,923 cases — 58.8% — active nationwide. There had been 202,692 deaths attributable to COVID-19 in the U.S. by Thursday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.9%.

Johns Hopkins University reported 32,068,225 COVID-19 cases worldwide Thursday afternoon. Of those, 22,059,084 were considered recovered, leaving 9,029,279 cases — 28.2% — active around the world. There had been 979,862 deaths attributable to the virus by Thursday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 3.1%.

Upcoming Events