TESTING PRIORITIES

shift amid supply concerns.

FAYETTEVILLE — Health care officials adjusted covid-19 testing priorities Thursday in Northwest Arkansas amid concerns about the availability of testing material.

Individuals who are symptomatic for covid-19 have been made the first priority for testing, according to a joint statement from Arkansas Children’s Northwest, Community Clinic, Mercy Northwest Arkansas, Northwest Health, UAMS Northwest, Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks and Washington Regional Medical Center.

Second is testing people who have contacted individuals within their household who have tested positive for the virus and third is asymptomatic health care workers who have been exposed or possibly exposed to the virus, according the statement.

Testing for anyone remains available at the Washington and Benton county health units.

The number of patients in Northwest Arkansas covid-19 hospital wards combined with testing needs is a concern for area health care officials, according to the release. Administering each covid-19 test requires personal protective equipment, swabs, testing supplies and nursing and clinical resources.

“We want to ensure testing is available to those who need it, while sustaining the resources which are currently available,” said Judd Semingson, Community Clinic CEO in the release.

As of Wednesday, 91 people were hospitalized for covid-19 in Benton and Washington counties, according to a joint statement from health officials.

At least 74 Benton and Washington county residents have died of covid-19.

The deaths include 40 Springdale residents,

17 Rogers residents, seven Bentonville residents and seven Fayetteville residents, according to information from Roger Morris, Washington County coroner, and Daniel Oxford, Benton County coroner.

Bethel Heights, Lowell and Gentry each had one resident die.

A fourth resident from Brookstone Assisted Living Facility died this week, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. The home had three residents die of the virus in April and May. Brookstone has no residents and four staff members with active cases of the virus, according to Wednesday report from the Health Department.

“The team at Brookstone Assisted Living is working closely with the Arkansas Department of Health and following its recommendations to prevent the spread of this highly infectious disease,” said Braida Litke, Brookstone’s executive director in an email. “We continue to reinforce strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures, including hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment.”

Washington and Benton counties continue to be among the top in the state for the 878 new cases within 24 hours. Hot Spring County led Arkansas in new cases with 151, followed by Washington County with 117, Pulaski County with 98 and Benton County with 75.

A total of 5,887 tests in the two counties, including 3,809 in Benton County and 2,078 in Washington County, were done in the past week, according to the Health Department.

Washington County has a positivity rate of 22%, according to the department. Benton County has a positivity rate of 8%.

Specimens to be tested are collected via nasal and mouth swabs. Testing is done at various commercial labs and the Health Department.

The Health Department began testing at county health units, including Fayetteville and Rogers, across the state May 18. The Fayetteville unit tested 1,032 people, and the Rogers unit 898 people as of Wednesday, according to Gavin Lesnick, Health Department spokesman.

Community Clinic, which has four coronavirus screening sites in Northwest Arkansas, has collected specimens from 12,652 people, including 1,353 in the past week, from March 30 through Wednesday, according to Abbie Luzius, community development manager. Patients are encouraged, but not required, to call before going to a clinic.

Mercy Health System collected specimens from approximately 6,726 people, including about 347 in the past week, from March 20 through Thursday, according to Jennifer Cook, spokeswoman. People who suspect they have covid-19 must call Mercy’s call center and be screened before making an appointment at Mercy’s evaluation site in Bentonville.

Washington Regional Health System has collected specimens to be tested from 9,033 people, including 1,316 in the past week, from March 16 through Wednesday at its screening clinics and Fayetteville

hospital, according to Natalie Hardin, spokeswoman. Patients are encouraged, but not required, to call before going to the clinics.