The Arkansas Department of Health reported 11 new COVID-19 cases in Union County Saturday, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 891. The cumulative case total was made up of 869 confirmed cases Saturday, up 12 from Friday, and 22 probable cases, down one from what the ADH reported Friday. An ADH spokesperson did not respond to a question about why the probable case was removed by press time Saturday.
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 deaths of two Union County residents who died as a result of COVID-19 were reported Saturday. Thirty-six local residents have died as a result of the virus, indicating a local COVID mortality rate — the percentage of those who have contracted the virus and died as a result of it — of 4%.
The ADH reported 14 new negative test results returned from Union County Saturday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 44% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 9,286 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 8,395 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 9.6%.
Four new recoveries were reported in Union County Saturday, bringing the total number of local residents considered recovered to 814. There were 40 active cases in Union County Saturday, up five from Friday, representing 4.5% of all the cases identified locally. Active cases in the county Saturday were made up of 34 confirmed cases and six probable cases.
The Arkansas Center for Health Initiatives released city-level COVID-19 data updated through September 21 this week. Cities where 10 or more cases have been identified are included in ACHI data.
According to the ACHI, 602 cases had been identified in El Dorado by Sept. 21, representing 2% of the city’s population; 17 cases had been identified in Huttig, representing 2% of the population; 52 cases had been identified in Junction City, representing 2% of the population; 37 cases had been identified in Smackover, representing 2% of the population; and 47 cases had been identified in Strong, representing 3% of the population.
Fewer than 10 cases have also been identified in Calion, Lawson, Mount Holly and Norphlet, according to the ACHI.
In the Southwest Public Health Region, where Union County is located, 89 people were hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 42 in intensive care units and 24 on ventilator support.
There were 809 new COVID-19 cases reported in Arkansas Saturday, bringing the cumulative total of cases in the state to 80,755. The cases in the state Saturday were made up of 78,260 confirmed cases, up 788 from Friday, and 2,495 probable cases, up 21 from Friday.
There were 72,051 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus Saturday, up 625 from Friday. Active cases in the state grew by 165 to reach 7,414 Saturday, representing 9.2% of all the cases in the state. The active cases in Arkansas were made up of 7,027 confirmed cases and 387 probable cases Saturday.
The deaths of 19 Arkansans who died as a result of COVID-19 were reported Saturday, bringing the state’s death toll to 1,285, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.6%. There were 447 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus on Saturday, including 213 ICUs and 91 on ventilator support.
Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 944,159 results have returned to the ADH, including 863,193 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 8.5%.
At 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University reported 7,065,019 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 2,727,335 people were considered recovered, leaving 4,133,435 cases — 58.5% — active nationwide. There had been 204,249 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Saturday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.9%.
Johns Hopkins reported 32,673,978 COVID-19 cases worldwide Saturday afternoon. Of those, 22,535,056 people were considered recovered, leaving 9,148,184 cases — 28% — active around the world. There had been 990,738 deaths attributable to the virus by Saturday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 3%.