County’s active cases set record as 26 new cases, one death reported
The Arkansas Department of Health reported a total of 1,775 COVID-19 cases in Union County Thursday, signifying an increase of 26 cases from Wednesday. The cases in the county Thursday included 1,461 confirmed cases, up 17 from Wednesday, and 314 probable cases, up nine from Wednesday.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests that determine confirmed cases are more sensitive than the antigen tests that determine probable cases.
Another Union County resident’s death that resulted from COVID-19 was reported Thursday. Sixty-one local residents have died as a result of the virus now, indicating a local COVID mortality rate — the percentage of people who die after contracting the virus — of 3.4%.
The number of active cases in Union County rose to its highest level yet on Thursday, growing by 11 from Wednesday to reach 141; they represented 7.9% of all the cases in the county and included 108 confirmed cases and 33 probable cases. There were 1,573 Union County residents considered recovered Thursday, up 14 from Wednesday.
A report on COVID cases in nursing homes produced by the ADH on Dec. 9 showed one active worker case at Courtyard Healthcare and Rehabilitation, where 40 other workers and 45 residents have contracted the virus in all. Eight residents there have died as a result of the virus.
In the Southwest hospital region of the state, where Union County is located, 145 people were hospitalized due to COVID Thursday, including 61 in intensive care units and 23 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 145 new negative test results returned from Union County on Thursday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 15.2% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 17,055 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 15,280 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 10.4%.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Arkansas grew by 2,202 Thursday to reach a cumulative total of 178,854. The cases in the state included 154,073 confirmed cases, up 1,704 from Wednesday, and 24,781 probable cases, up 498 from Wednesday.
Active cases were higher in the state than they have been before on Thursday, climbing by 958 cases to reach 19,723; they represented 11% of all the
cases in the state and included 15,342 confirmed cases and 4,381 probable cases. There were 156,286 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus Thursday, up 1,209 from Wednesday.
The deaths of 34 Arkansans that resulted from COVID-19 were reported Thursday, bringing the state’s death toll to 2,820, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.6%. There were 1,005 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Thursday, including 372 in ICUs and 181 on ventilator support.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson was scheduled to deliver a prime-time update on COVID-19 Thursday evening. On Thursday afternoon, he issued a reminder to Arkansans about the importance of the three W’s: wearing a mask, washing one’s hands and watching one’s distance.
“A decrease in hospitalizations is a good sign, but this has not been the trend,” he said. “Continue to wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance as you are out and about.”
The ADH reported 18,375 new COVID-19 test results returned Thursday, indicating a one-day positivity rate of 12% for the state based on the number of new cases and results reported. Since the state began testing for the virus, 1,982,317 results have returned to the ADH, including 1,798,072 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 9%.
At 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Johns Hopkins University reported 15,550,786 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 5,891,885 people were considered recovered, leaving 9,367,247 cases — 60.2% — active nationwide. There had been 291,754 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Thursday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 1.9%.
Johns Hopkins reported 69,436,169 COVID-19 cases worldwide Thursday afternoon. Of those, 44,603,644 people were considered recovered, leaving 23,253,361 cases — 33.5% — active around the world. There had been 1,579,164 reported deaths attributable to the virus by Thursday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.3%.