COVID-19 UPDATE: County’s infection curve reaches new peak

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:

• 152,369 cumulative confirmed cases, up 1,757 from Tuesday.

• 1,666.29 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, up 35.71 from Tuesday.

• 1,800,034 PCR test reports, up 16,536 from Tuesday.

• 8.5% cumulative PCR infection rate, up from

8.4% Tuesday.

• 24,283 cumulative probable cases, up 570 from Tuesday.

• 17.6% cumulative antigen infection rate, down from 17.7% Tuesday.

• 18,765 active confirmed and probable cases, up 304 from Tuesday.

•155,077 recoveries of confirmed and probable cases, up 1,989 from Tuesday.

• 1,064 hospitalizations, down 17 from Tuesday.

• 179 cases on a ventilator, down three from Tuesday.

• 2,552 confirmed deaths, up 31 from Tuesday.

• 234 probable deaths, up three from Tuesday.

• 1,183 nursing home deaths, up 14 from Tuesday.

• 3,969 cumulative confirmed cases in Garland County, up 84 from Tuesday.

• 50.71 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, up 7.85 from Tuesday.

• 57,003 PCR and antigen test reports, up 591 from Tuesday.

• 40,374 private lab reports, up 545 from Tuesday.

• 16,629 public lab reports, up 46 from Tuesday.

• 7.3% cumulative PCR infection rate, up from

7.2% Tuesday.

• 443 active confirmed cases in Garland County, up 52 from Tuesday.

• 3,412 recoveries of confirmed cases in Garland County, up 33 from Tuesday.

• 420 cumulative probable cases in Garland County, up five from Tuesday.

• 95 active probable cases in Garland County, down five from Tuesday.

• 114 confirmed deaths, no change from Tuesday.

• Six probable deaths, no change from Tuesday. Garland County’s recent jump in reported infections is probably a function of the Thanksgiving holiday, the county’s health officer surmised.

“It’s not terribly surprising with the timing after Thanksgiving,” Dr. Gene Shelby said Wednesday. “We’ve seen peaks 10 days after a holiday before. I assume it’s related to the holiday, but I don’t have anything specific.”

The more than 100 confirmed and probable cases reported Tuesday in Garland County ranked fourth statewide. The 99 new confirmed cases were the most reported in a single day since the

103 reported Nov. 13. The 89 new confirmed and probable cases reported Wednesday ranked fifth statewide.

The 84 new confirmed cases pushed the county’s infection curve to a new peak. Wednesday’s 50.71 rolling seven- day average of new confirmed cases was 7% higher than the previous peak reached in mid November. The moving average has risen 65% since Monday.

Active confirmed cases reported Wednesday also peaked, beating the previous high reported on Thanksgiving by 12%.

The county’s cumulative polymerase chain reaction infection rate has risen fourtenths of a point this month, reaching its highest level since August. Lower testing frequency isn’t behind the increase. According to Health Department stats, the county has had between 2,000 and 2,700 test reports per week since October.

The statewide infection curve peaked for a sixthstraight day Wednesday, with the rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases reaching 1,666.29. Active confirmed and probable cases also peaked Wednesday, surpassing the 18,750 reported Sunday.

“This morning I had a very productive meeting with community leaders in northwest Arkansas,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday in a news release. “The discussions around health care, education, and business provided my team and me with valuable insight into the challenges that are being faced as a result of this virus.”