Union County tops 1,900 COVID cases; one new death reported
The Arkansas Department of Health reported a record 46 new COVID-19 cases in Union County on Wednesday, along with one local death caused by COVID.
The total number of cases identified in Union County grew to 1,909 Wednesday, and included 1,528 confirmed cases, up 21 from Tuesday, and 381 probable cases, up 25 from Tuesday.
Confirmed cases are determined by positive PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, while probable cases are determined by positive antigen tests.
One local resident’s death that was a result of COVID-19 was also reported Wednesday. Sixty-five Union County residents have now died as a result of the virus, indicating a local COVID mortality rate — the percentage of those who die after contracting the virus — of 3.4%.
Active cases rose by nine on Wednesday to reach 158; they represented 8.3% of all the cases identified locally and included 103 confirmed cases and 55 probable cases. There were 1,686 Union County residents considered recovered from the virus, up 36 from Tuesday.
A report on COVID cases in educational institutions produced by the ADH on Dec. 14 showed active cases in two Union County school districts. The El Dorado School District reported 22 active cases. There have been 114 COVID-19 cases identified in the ESD in total, including 39 staff or faculty cases and 73 student cases. Six active cases were reported in the Smackover-Norphlet School District. In total, 56 cases have been identified in the SNSD, including 16 staff or faculty cases and 39 student cases. Another educational institution COVID report is due on Thursday, per an ADH spokesperson. Another report on COVID cases in nursing homes, also produced by the ADH on Dec. 14, showed only one active case in any local nursing homes. One worker at Courtyard Healthcare and Rehabilitation who tested positive within the past two weeks still has an active case, according to the report. In total, 45 residents of Courtyard have contracted the virus, including eight who died as a result of it, as well as 41 workers. There were 144 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in the Southwest
hospital region of the state, where Union County is located, on Wednesday, including 60 in intensive care units and 26 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 45 new negative test results returned from Union County on Wednesday, indicating a one-day local positivity rate of 50.5% based on the number of new cases and results reported. In all, 17,837 COVID-19 test results have returned from Union County, including 15,928 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 10.7%.
In Arkansas, cases increased by 2,306 to reach 191,504 on Wednesday. The cases in the state included 163,230 confirmed cases, up 1,638 from Tuesday, and 28,274 probable cases, up 668 from Tuesday.
Active cases grew by 84 on Wednesday, rising to 20,774; they represented 10.8% of all the cases identified in the state and included 15,862 confirmed cases and 4,912 probable cases. There were 167,631 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus Wednesday, up 2,164 from Tuesday.
A record number of deaths resulting from COVID-19 were reported statewide Wednesday for the third time this month. The deaths of 58 Arkansans that were a result of COVID-19 were reported Wednesday, bringing the state’s death toll to 3,074, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.6%. There were 1,079 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Wednesday, including 399 in ICUs and 184 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 13,581 new COVID-19 test results returned Wednesday, indicating a one-day positivity rate for the state of 17% based on the number of new cases and results reported. Since the state began testing for COVID19, 2,073,959 results have returned to the ADH, including 1,876,385 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 9.2%.
At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Johns Hopkins University reported 16,885,623 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Data was not available on the number of U.S. residents considered recovered from the virus or on the number of active cases in the U.S. By Wednesday afternoon, 306,363 deaths attributable to the virus had been reported in the U.S., indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 1.8%.
Johns Hopkins reported 73,969,003 COVID19 cases worldwide Wednesday afternoon. There were 41,847,804 people considered recovered from the virus Wednesday afternoon, leaving 30,476,610 cases — 41.2% — active around the world. There had been 1,644,589 deaths attributable to the virus reported by Wednesday afternoon, indicating a global COVID mortality rate of 2.2%.