COVID-19 update
EDITOR’S NOTE: As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record will publish updates released each weekday by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.
At Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s daily COVID-19 press conference, the following updates as of 1:30 p.m. were shared:
• 1,923 confirmed cases statewide, up 144 from April 17.
• 26,554 test results, up 3,059 from April 17.
• 7.2% rate of infection, no change from April 17.
• 744 recoveries, up 201 from April 17.
• 42 deaths, up five from April 17.
• 93 cases requiring hospitalization, no change from April 17.
• 128 cases in nursing homes, up 12 from April 17.
• 244 health care workers infected, up 16 from April 17.
• 23 cases on a ventilator, no change from April 17.
• 107 confirmed cases in Garland County, no change from April 17.
• 1,543 test results for Garland County, up 123 from April
17.
• 6.9% rate of infection for Garland County, down from
7.5% April 17.
• 58 recoveries, up eight from April 17.
The city of Hot Springs and The Sentinel-Record summarized the state’s Monday update on its response to the coronavirus pandemic as follows:
Although Arkansas is faring well in terms of tests per capita in relation to states nationwide, Hutchinson said expanded testing would provide a clearer picture of the disease’s prevalence and reveal areas with high concentrations of positives. Last week the state broadened testing criteria to include anyone presenting COVID-19 symptoms, relaxing criteria that limited testing to people in high-risk work and health categories.
Hutchinson also said that as the state progresses through the phases of reopening, beginning with the lifting of some restrictions on May 4, Arkansans will need to continue to wear masks, social distance and avoid gatherings.
Positive cases from the Cummins Unit of the Arkansas Department of Correction accounted for a majority of new cases the state reported Monday. Of the 142 new cases, the state attributed 117 to the southeast Arkansas prison. Not all of the roughly 600 cases from the prison were included in Monday’s statewide total.
Dr. Nate Smith, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health, said the prison outbreak showed how rapidly the disease can spread in a congregate living environment. He said most of the positive cases didn’t have symptoms associated with COVID-19.