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.
The following stats were posted Wednesday on the Arkansas Department of Health website:
• 95,399 cumulative confirmed cases, up 981 from Tuesday.
• 737.71 rolling seven- day average of new confirmed cases, up 13.85 from Tuesday.
• 7.7% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Tuesday.
• 1,242,752 PCR test reports, up 11,100 from Tuesday.
• 6,197 probable cases, up 174 from Tuesday.
• 17.3% cumulative antigen infection rate, down from 17.8% Tuesday.
• 8,520 active confirmed and probable cases, up 98 from Tuesday.
• 91,317 recoveries of confirmed and probable cases, up 1,034 from Tuesday.
• 636 hospitalizations, down one from Tuesday.
• 1,599 confirmed deaths, up 23 from Tuesday.
• 152 probable deaths, no change from Tuesday.
• 99 cases on a ventilator, down two from Tuesday.
• 2,233 cumulative confirmed cases in Garland County, up 30 from Tuesday.
• 16 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, up 0.86 from Tuesday.
• 40,260 PCR and antigen test reports for Garland County, up 191 from Tuesday.
• 30,322 private lab reports, up 191 from Tuesday.
• 9,938 public lab reports, no change from Tuesday.
• 5.7% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Tuesday.
• 2,024 recoveries of confirmed cases in Garland County, up 15 from Tuesday.
• 152 active confirmed cases in Garland County, up 15 from Tuesday.
• 57 confirmed deaths, no change from Tuesday.
• Five probable deaths, no change from Tuesday.
Thirty new confirmed cases were reported Wednesday in Garland County, the second-highest total of October, raising the county’s infection curve 6%.
On Oct. 11, the county’s rolling seven- day average of new confirmed cases dropped to single digits for the first time since mid-July. It rose 90% a week later and has ranged between 15.14 and 16.43 this week.
Confirmed cases reported Wednesday coincided with fewer than 200 polymerase chain reaction and antigen test reports added to the county’s testing total. The county averaged more than 350 test reports during the first 20 days of the month. Wednesday’s confirmed cases raised the county’s cumulative PCR infection rate a tenth of a point.
It’s unclear how many of the county’s more than 40,000 test reports have come from testing the state is conducting in long-term care facilities. Nursing home residents and staff have been tested frequently during the testing initiative, but the Health Department said Tuesday that it was unable to say what percentage of the
county’s test reports are from nursing homes.
The 152 active confirmed cases reported Wednesday in the county were the most since Oct. 5.
The 981 new confirmed cases reported statewide Wednesday raised the state’s infection curve for a second-straight day. The rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases rose to 737.71, a 5% increase from
Monday’s moving average.
The 636 hospitalizations reported Wednesday were one fewer than Tuesday’s peak.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued the following statement on Wednesday’s case numbers.
“We are testing at record levels and we continue to see a high number of new cases across Arkansas. Compared to last Wednesday, we are plus 76 cases. Today we have
14 counties with more than 20 cases, once again highlighting the fact that this virus is not contained to one part of the state. We must all remain focused in our fight against
COVID-19. Let’s be careful of the social gatherings and remind each other that wearing a mask protects those around us. Today everyone understands the need for social distancing.”