The Arkansas Department of Health reported 31 new COVID-19 cases in Union County Saturday, raising the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 2,554. The cases in the county included 1,983 confirmed cases, up 31 from Friday, and 571 probable cases, no change from Friday.
Confirmed cases are determined by positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, while probable cases are determined by positive antigen tests, per distinctions made by the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Active cases rose to a new high again Saturday, by eight cases to reach 362 total; they represented 14.2% of all the cases in the county and included 317 confirmed cases and 45 proble cases. There were 2,119 Union County residents considered recovered from the virus Saturday, up 23 from Friday.
The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement reported city-level COVID data updated through Dec. 28, 2020 this week. Cases increased in almost all of the city’s municipalities. Fewer than 10 cases have been identified in Lawson; the number of cases there wasn’t enumerated in the ACHI’s latest report in order to protect the identities of those who have tested positive for the virus.
According to the ACHI, as of Dec. 28, 2020, 14 COVID-19 cases had been identified in Calion, representing 3% of the city’s population; 1,640 had been identified in El Dorado, including 208 in the past two weeks, representing 5% of the population; 49 had been identified in Huttig, including 15 new in the last two weeks, representing 5% of the population; 148 had been identified in Junction City, including 12 in the last two weeks, representing 6% of the population; 19 had been identified in Mount Holly, representing 5% of the population; 31 had been identified in Norphlet, representing 6% of the population; 137 had been identified in Smackover, including 22 new in the last two weeks, representing 6% of the population; and 125 had been identified in Strong, including 16 new in the last two weeks, representing 7% of the population.
No new local deaths caused by COVID-19 were reported Saturday. Seventy-three Union County residents have died as a result of the virus. There were 198 people hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 74 in intensive care units and 35 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 181 new negative COVID-19 test results returned from Union County Saturday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 14.6% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 21,476 test results have returned from Union County, including 18,922 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 11.9%.
Arkansas added 2,000 new COVID-19 cases to its cumulative total, which reached 231,442, on Saturday. The cases in the state included 191,166 confirmed cases, up 1,597 from Friday, and 40,276 probable cases, up 403 from Friday.
Active cases hit a new high Saturday with the addition of 56 new cases, making 23,986 active cases in all; they represented 10.4% of all the cases in the state and included 16,973 confirmed cases and 7,013 probable cases. There were 203,701 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus Saturday, up 1,927 from Friday.
The deaths of 18 Arkansans that resulted from COVID-19 were reported Saturday, bringing the state’s death toll to 3,729, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.6%. There were 1,216 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Saturday, including 393 in ICUs and 197 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 12,190 new COVID-19 test results returned Saturday, indicating a one-day positivity rate for the state of 16.4% based on the number of new cases and results reported. Since the state began testing for the virus, 2,330,944 results have returned to the ADH, including 2,091,806 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 9.9%.
At 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University reported 20,346,291 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Data wasn’t available on the number of U.S. residents considered recovered or the number of active cases in the States. By Saturday afternoon, 349,521 deaths attributable to the virus had been reported in the U.S., indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 1.7%.
Johns Hopkins reported 84,435,558 COVID-19 cases worldwide Saturday afternoon. There were 47,510,175 people considered recovered from the virus then, leaving 35,092,042 cases — 41.6% — active around the world. There had been 1,833,341 deaths attributable to the virus reported by Saturday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.2%.