COVID-19 update
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 Thursday on the Arkansas Department of Health website:
• 165,512 cumulative confirmed cases, up 2,282 from Wednesday.
• 1,645.71 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, up 82.57 from Wednesday.
• 1,899,774 PCR test reports, up 13,686 from Wednesday.
• 8.7% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.
• 29,031 cumulative probable cases, up 757
from Wednesday.
• 18.1% cumulative antigen infection rate, down from 18.3% Wednesday.
• 21,659 active confirmed and probable cases, up 885 from Wednesday.
• 169,745 recoveries of confirmed and probable cases, up
2,114 from Wednesday.
• 1,084 hospitalizations, up five from Wednesday.
• 188 cases on a ventilator, up four from Wednesday.
• 2,755 confirmed deaths, up
30 from Wednesday.
• 357 probable deaths, up eight from Wednesday.
• 1,340 nursing home deaths, up 18 from Wednesday.
• 4,288 cumulative confirmed cases in Garland County, up 39 from Wednesday.
• 40.42 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, up 0.42 from Wednesday.
• 60,240 PCR and antigen test reports, up 635 from Wednesday.
• 42,695 private lab reports, up 333 from Wednesday.
• 17,545 public lab reports, up
302 from Wednesday.
• 7.6% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.
• 397 active confirmed cases in Garland County, down two from Wednesday.
• 3,773 recoveries of confirmed cases in Garland County, up 41 from Wednesday.
• 545 cumulative probable cases in Garland County, up 19 from Wednesday.
• 129 active probable cases in Garland County, up six from Wednesday.
• 118 confirmed deaths, no change from Wednesday.
• 14 probable deaths, up one from Wednesday.
The state set records for new confirmed and total cases Thursday, with the Health Department reporting more than
3,000 new cases in the previous
24 hours.
The 2,282 new confirmed cases reported Thursday eclipsed the previous record of
2,188 reported Dec. 4. The 3,039 confirmed and probable cases marked the first time total cases surpassed 3,000.
“The 3,039 new cases today is a milestone we did not want to reach,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday in a news release. “With over 17,000 COVID-19 test results over the past 24 hours, we see our testing continues to increase and identify cases.
“If we isolate and quarantine as needed, then the identifying of cases will help control the spread. We continue to work on vaccine distribution, but we have to focus on distancing and wearing our mask to slow this virus down.”
Thursday’s confirmed cases replaced the 1,704 reported the previous Thursday in the rolling seven-day average of new cases, raising the infection curve more than 5% and within less than 2% of the Dec. 9 peak. A more than
4% increase raised active confirmed and probable cases to a new peak, surpassing Saturday’s peak of 21,489.
Hospitalizations rose for the third- straight day Thursday, climbing within four of the peak of 1,088 reported Dec. 2.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended an emergency use authorization Thursday for Moderna’s vaccine. The FDA is expected to ratify the recommendation by the end of the week.
Like the Pfizer vaccine approved for emergency use earlier this month, Moderna’s uses messenger RNA technology that instructs cells how to make part of the virus’ spike protein. The immune system then makes antibodies to fight off what it thinks is an infection, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Unlike Pfizer’s vaccine, Moderna’s doesn’t have to be stored at minus 74 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be stored in a regular refrigerator.
Garland County’s infection curve remained flat for a second- straight day, with the 39 new confirmed cases reported Thursday replacing the 36 reported the previous Thursday in the county’s moving average.