COVID transmission in county downgraded to 'medium' level

New cases of COVID-19 continue to decline in Union County, and on Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control downgraded the county's transmission level to "medium."

The change in designation comes as the number of active cases in the county dropped for the fourth day in a row to reach 211 on Friday.

Between Friday, July 29, and Aug. 5, there were 106 new COVID cases identified in Union County, down from 146 identified between Friday, July 22 and July 29. The state as a whole also saw a decline in cases between July 29 and Friday, with 7,149 new cases identified, down from 8,302 the previous week.

Hospitalizations resulting from COVID have largely plateaued from a high of 442 reached on July 20. As of Friday, 404 Arkansans were hospitalized as a result of the virus.

Alexis Jacobs-Jones, a spokesperson for Medical Center of South Arkansas, said five people were hospitalized locally due to COVID on Friday, including one who was in the ICU.

"When you look at current hospitalizations plotted out over time, what you see in the past, really, two weeks, three weeks is just a plateau," State Epidemiologist Mike Cima said earlier this week. "That's typical of points where we have peaked and maybe started to come down."

He said he was hopeful the number hospitalized would begin declining more steadily "fairly soon."

Union County's COVID death toll rose by two this week to 184.

The CDC's community transmission tracker dropped Union County from "high" COVID spread to "medium" this week, removing a recommendation that all local residents wear masks when indoors in public spaces.

The CDC does still recommend that those who are immuno-compromised or who have been exposed to someone with the virus wear a mask indoors, and that all residents mask on public transportation. Additionally, the CDC recommends staying up-to-date on COVID vaccinations and getting tested if one exhibits symptoms of the virus.

"We encourage individuals to stay home if they are not feeling well," added Jacobs-Jones.

According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Cima noted on Thursday that the COVID spike that hit Arkansas this summer saw the number of new cases reported daily growing gradually, and the decline in cases will likely follow a similar path.

"Now it seems that, on the other side of this peak, it's going to be gradual on the way down as well," Cima said.

According to the CDC, 19,337 Union County residents are fully vaccinated against the virus. Within the population of people 65 and older, 5,683 -- 79.8% -- are fully immunized.

COVID-19 vaccines are widely available in Union County. They're free and one does not need health insurance to get one. A full list of clinics offering vaccines is available at healthy.arkansas.gov.

The COVID vaccine for children six months to five years old is available at the Union County Local Health Unit, 301 American Rd.

Andy Davis of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contributed reporting.

Upcoming Events