There were 95 new COVID-19 cases identified in Union County between Sunday, August 8, and Saturday, and active cases in the county reached a high of 168 Saturday.
Statewide, more than 14,000 new cases were identified last week and 144 Arkansans died as a result of the virus.
Hospitalizations
Throughout the week, the rising number of Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus was a major concern for public health and government officials as well as physicians on the ground. Previous records set in the winter for the number of COVID patients hospitalized in the state were broken when on Friday the number of Arkansans hospitalized with the virus reached 1,458.
"The situation is very serious because any increase in hospitalization is a continued stress on our hospital systems which really don't have available beds. It's a very difficult situation," Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, the state's chief epidemiologist, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last week. "Because of how full the hospitals are, they are not able to transfer patients within the state to get the appropriate level of care, and that's a very serious situation to be in."
On Thursday, Medical Center of South Arkansas Executive Director of Business Development Alexandria Bennett said the hospital was caring for eight COVID patients. She explained that the number of available hospital and critical care beds shifts throughout the day as patients are discharged, moved to different units or otherwise have their status changed.
"While all of our critical care beds are in use at present, patient numbers and bed availability are fluid throughout the day as patients are discharged and admitted," she said Thursday afternoon. "MCSA has the ability to care for patients who need medical care. We are nearing the completion of a significant ICU renovation which will double our hospital's critical care capacity."
According to the Arkansas Department of Health, on Friday, there were 1,658 hospital beds available in Arkansas, including 22 ICU beds. The number of available ICU beds fell to eight last Monday, before 12 beds were added in the Baptist Health hospital system and additional beds became free at other hospitals.
"A number of steps are being taken (to address the hospital bed situation), but everybody has to realize it's not a good time to get sick because the space is limited," Gov. Asa Hutchinson said on Tuesday.
A federal surge team that visited Arkansas recently to report on the hospital bed situation provided several recommendations in a report issued last week, including suggestions to use rural hospitals for COVID care so larger hospitals with capability to treat higher acuity patients have bed space; to expand the use of monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID patients so they don't end up in the hospital; and to encourage vaccination efforts.
Vaccines and masks
Several local school districts last week implemented mask mandates for students, staff and visitors who are indoors on district premises in response to the rising number of cases, including the El Dorado and Strong-Huttig school districts. In the Smackover-Norphlet and Junction City school districts, masks won't be required as school starts this week, but they are strongly recommended.
According to the Arkansas Centers for Health Improvement, over the last 14 days, within the Parkers Chapel and Strong-Huttig school district boundaries, 50-99 new COVID-19 cases per 10,000 residents have been identified; in the El Dorado and Smackover-Norphlet school district boundaries, 30-49 new cases per 10,000 residents have been identified; and in the Junction City School District boundaries, 20-29 new cases per 10,000 residents have been identified.
On Friday, the state reached Hutchinson's goal for at least 50% of Arkansans to have started the vaccination process, only 11 days after his original goal date.
Several vaccine clinics are planned in the upcoming weeks in El Dorado. Vaccination against COVID-19 is free and one does not need health insurance to get vaccinated.
The UAMS Mobile Vaccine Unit has two scheduled stops in El Dorado upcoming. On Friday, August 20, in partnership with Murphy USA, a clinic for people 12 and older will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MUSA corporate office at 200 E. Peach Street; and on Wednesday, August 25, a vaccine clinic for people 12 and older will be held in partnership with the SHARE Foundation and the Interfaith Clinic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SHARE Foundation office at 2299 Champagnolle Rd.
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, Walgreens 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; for Walgreens, visit walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid/19/landing 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; Walgreens at 701 W. Grove and 2135 N. West Ave 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.