COVID-19 update
EDITOR’S NOTE: As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record publishes updates released by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson held his weekly press update Tuesday from the Capitol. The following stats were posted Tuesday on the Arkansas Department of Health website:
• 94,418 cumulative confirmed cases, up 628 from Monday.
• 723.86 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, up 21 from Monday.
• 7.7% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Monday.
• 1,231,652 PCR test reports, up 7,738 from Monday.
• 6,023 probable cases, up 216 from Monday.
• 17.8% cumulative antigen infection rate, up from 17.7% Monday.
• 8,422 active confirmed and probable cases, down 236 from Monday.
• 637 hospitalizations, up 24 from Monday.
• 1,576 confirmed deaths, up 14 from Monday.
• 152 probable deaths, no change from Monday.
• 101 cases on a ventilator, up two from Monday.
• 2,203 cumulative confirmed cases in Garland
County, up eight from Monday.
• 15.14 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, down 1.29 from Monday.
• 40,069 PCR and antigen test reports for Garland County, up 184 from Monday.
• 30,131 private lab reports, up 108 from Monday.
• 9,938 public lab reports, up 76 from Monday.
• 5.6% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Monday.
• 137 active confirmed cases in Garland County, down six from Monday.
• 2,009 recoveries of confirmed cases in Garland County, up 14 from Monday.
• 57 confirmed deaths, no change from Monday.
• Five probable deaths, no change from Monday.
Hutchinson said he’s limiting his public appearances to essential activities after being in close proximity Friday to someone who tested positive for the coronavirus.
“In one meeting I had last Friday in the Governor’s Conference Room, there was an individual in the meeting that later tested positive
for COVID-19,” he said. “Even though I remained over 6 feet away from the individual tested, as a precaution, I had a COVID-19 test early Monday morning, an antigen test that was negative, followed by a PCR test that was also negative.
“While the meeting did not rise to the level of CDC quarantine guidance, out of concern for the comfort level of others in meetings, I will be limiting my public appearances.”
Hutchinson said he’ll be tested today, Friday and Monday.
Hospitalizations reached a new peak Tuesday for the second time in as many days, climbing to 637. The previous peak was 608 Oct. 12. Hutchinson said hospital administrators have described capacity as “tight.”
“They have such a good working relationship among them that they can move resources and continue to do other necessary surgeries,” he said. “We’re all worried about the winter and the fact that if our flu season or other hospitalizations go up it’s hard to manage it all together. We need to really work hard in our flu season to control that. Everyone is prepared and realistic that those hospitalizations will go up.”
The infection curve rose for the first time since Oct. 15, with the rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases increasing 3% to 723.86.
“The continuing number of cases that we’re seeing indicates the mask mandate is not being adhered to as we’d like to see it,” Dr. Jose Romero, Health Department secretary, said. “It’s essential we follow all recommendations for reducing transmission. We need to have at least 50% of the population use the mask and use the guidelines consistently in order to seek a decrease in the number of cases we see each day.”
Romero said public health agencies are reporting a growing number of new infections linked to family gatherings. He and Hutchinson said family gatherings need to be limited and conducted in a careful fashion.
“We tend to lower our guard because it’s family, but that’s not always the best thing to do,” Romero said. “Thirty to 40% of cases are asymptomatic. Those are really the cases we worry about. If you don’t have any symptoms you’re really at risk for transmitting that.”