The number of COVID-19 cases identified in Union County last week almost doubled from the week before and active cases in the county hit a new summer high of 176 Saturday.
From Saturday, July 31, through Saturday, August 7, 140 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Union County, while only 72 local residents reached the criteria for being considered recovered from the virus.
The seven-day positivity rate for that period was 16.3%, meaning more than 16 in 100 tests performed in that seven-day period returned COVID-positive results.
One COVID-related death that was reported in the week before last, however, was removed from Union County's total on Thursday. Danyelle McNeill, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Health, said a death could have been removed from the county's total either because it was assigned to a different county or determined not to be a COVID death.
As students prepare to start the 2021/2022 school year, the El Dorado School District is offering a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for anyone in the community over the age of 12 at El Dorado High School.
According to the district's website, the clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, August 11, from 8 to 10 a.m. at EHS, which is located at 2000 Wildcat Dr., off Timberlane. Participants are asked to enter through the Wildcat Arena.
The clinic will utilize the Pfizer vaccine, which has been approved for use in everyone over the age of 12. The vaccine requires two shots for full efficacy, and a second clinic to give participants their second shot will be held on September 3 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at EHS.
"(We) just think it's important for every child and adult to have as many opportunities as possible to receive the vaccine," said ESD Superintendent Jim Tucker. "We really want to have a successful school year and this is one way to help accomplish that."
Everyone who plans to participate in the district's clinic is asked to sign a consent form and register ahead of Wednesday; both forms can be found at eldoradopublicschools.org.
COVID cases in children
The topic of children contracting COVID was a major issue in Arkansas this week as the state legislature met to consider whether they would amend Act 1002 of 2021, which prevents local government entities, including public schools, from mandating masks.
The legislature adjourned Friday after four days in session without making any moves on allowing local decision making on masks; however, the same day, a Pulaski County judge barred authorities from enforcing Act 1002.
According to the state health department, as of noon on August 4, 66 children under the age of 18 in Union County had been recorded as having contracted COVID-19 since May 1, 2021. Of those, half were children under 12 who are not eligible for vaccination against the virus.
Dr. Jose Romero, the state secretary of health, said Tuesday that the share of COVID-19 cases in children has increased significantly this summer. He said that as of August 1, 19% of the cases in the state were in children under 18, with children under 12 representing more than half of those cases.
The number of COVID-19 cases identified in children under 18, Romero said, increased by more than 500% between April and July, and more than 600% for children under 12. The rate of hospitalization due to COVID-19 in children under 18 has increased by 270%, he said, while ICU admissions for that group have jumped by nearly 275%.
In July, Romero said, 58% of those under 18 hospitalized due to the virus were under the age of 12.
"I think these numbers exemplify and bring out a very sobering aspect of the pandemic in our state. We have a group of individuals who are extremely susceptible to infection because they do not have eligibility for a vaccine," Romero said. "As the governor said, we do not have a (mask) mandate, but I clearly recommend this for children going to school."
As of August 7, three Arkansan children under the age of 18 had died as a result of COVID-19 and 531 children had been hospitalized as a result of the virus, with the bulk of those being children under the age of 12, according to the ADH.
According to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, as of August 2, four of Union County's public school districts -- El Dorado, Smackover-Norphlet, Parkers Chapel and Strong-Huttig -- were in the "orange" zone in the number of new cases reported over the previous two weeks per 10,000 people in the population, with between 30 and 49 new cases per 10,000 people in those districts' areas having contracted the virus. Junction City School District was in the "yellow" zone, with 20 to 29 new cases per 10,000 people.
Arkansas cases
The state surpassed 400,000 total COVID-19 cases reported since the pandemic began last year on Friday, and more than 16,000 new cases were reported last week alone.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson continued his "community COVID conversations" last week, travelling to different cities throughout the state to meet with constituents and encourage discussions about public health and vaccination in light of the pandemic.
Next week, Hutchinson will hold another "conversation" in Camden at the Southern Arkansas University Tech Student Center at 6415 Spellman Road. The visit is scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 12.
Almost 150 Arkansans died as a result of COVID-19 last week. Hospitalizations caused by the virus continued to surge, peaking above 1,250 Thursday.
Testing and vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are free to everyone, regardless of whether they have health insurance or not.
Aside from the ESD's upcoming clinic, COVID-19 vaccines are available at several locations in El Dorado. Three COVID-19 vaccines developed by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have been approved for use in the United States. The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for use in people as young as 12 years old, while the latter two are approved for use in anyone over the age of 18.
In Union County, COVID vaccines are available at Melvin's Discount Pharmacy, Walmart and the Union County Local Health Unit. To set a vaccination appointment at Melvin's, call 870-863-4155; for Walmart, visit walmart.com/COVID; and for the Local Health Unit, call 1-800-985-6030.
COVID testing is also available in Union County at SAMA, at 600 S. Timberlane in El Dorado; Medical Center of South Arkansas, at 700 W. Grove in El Dorado; the Union County Local Health Unit, at 301 American Rd. in El Dorado; and the Strong Clinic, at 253 S. Concord in Strong.