COVID-19 update
EDITOR’S NOTE: As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record will publish daily updates released each weekday by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.
The following stats were shared Thursday at Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s daily COVID-19 news conference in Little Rock and posted on the Arkansas Department of Health’s website:
• 10,816 cumulative cases, up 448 from Wednesday.
• 180,391 tests reported, up 4,174 from Wednesday.
• 6.0% rate of infection, up from 5.9% Wednesday.
• 3,294 active cases, up 207 from Wednesday.
• 7,351 recoveries, up 235 from Wednesday.
• 187 hospitalizations, up six from Wednesday.
• 502 nursing home residents infected, up nine from Wednesday.
• 45 cases on a ventilator, down four from Wednesday.
• 171 deaths, up six from Wednesday.
• 154 cumulative cases in Garland County, up one from Wednesday.
• 4,686 test reported for Garland County, up 68 from Wednesday.
• 3.3% rate of infection, no change from Wednesday.
• 134 recoveries in Garland County, no change from Wednesday.
• 19 active cases in Garland County, up one from Wednesday.
• One death in Garland County, no change from Wednesday.
Hutchinson announced the Ready for Learning initiative, the state’s plan to resume on-site instruction when the 2020-21 school year begins in August.
“We plan to go back to school in regular fashion, supplemented with online learning as needed,” he said. “(Education Commissioner Johnny Key) is working hard with local leaders and superintendents to develop specific plans.”
School districts have been encouraged to form local committees, as Deputy Commissioner Ivy Pfeffer said communities will largely determine how to their schools proceed with instruction.
“During the next school year, it may be necessary to pivot from on-site to off-site remote learning,” Pfeffer said. “The state will provide guidance, resources and directives when necessary, but ultimately what school looks like is going to be guided by each local school district working with their local community.”
The 448 new cases reported Thursday raised the rolling seven-day average of new cases for a third straight day, reaching a high of 341.57 that’s up more than 240 percent over the last 31 days. The net increase of six hospitalizations put the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals at 187, an all-time high and more than 200% increase over the last 31 days.
The CEO of Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville wrote an open letter Wednesday asserting that the rise in hospitalizations is linked to more people getting sick from COVID-19, not increased testing. Washington County, the seat of which is in Fayetteville, has seen a sharp increase in new infections. The 143 new cases reported there Thursday were the most in the state. Ninety-three were in Springdale.
Hutchinson said the letter was thoughtful and well-timed, a reminder that while the state will allow restaurants, bars, personal care services, gyms and other businesses to expand operations to twothirds capacity Monday, the virus still poses a threat.
“The letter is an emphasis, an exclamation point to all of us that this has serious consequences, that we have to take it seriously,” he said. “We made the right decision, regardless of what we see in the next week. We made the right decision to go ahead and lift some of these restrictions, so we don’t cause more damage to people’s lives and livelihoods.
“The only worry I have is that we have to make sure the message is consistent. Even though we’re opening up, we’re expanding our economy, that does not diminish the seriousness of this virus. That has to be communicated simultaneously.”
Dr. Nate Smith, Health Department secretary, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team that will help the state better understand how the virus is spreading in the Latin community will arrive in northwest Arkansas today. Smith said the community accounted for 29% of the more than 3,200 active cases reported statewide Thursday.
The one new case reported Thursday in Garland County raised its rolling seven-day average of new cases to 2.29. It was the third straight day the average was above two after being below one for 19 straight days.