County sets new record for COVID-19 deaths,

The five deaths reported Monday in Garland County increased the number of deaths reported in August to 54, eclipsing the previous high of 53 reported in January.

Deaths reported during the first 30 days of the month were 200% higher than those reported over a four-month span from April to July.

The county’s active cases have declined 46% from the Aug. 14 peak, and its infection curve has fallen 40% compared to the previous Monday’s rolling seven-day average of new cases. Monday’s moving average was 52% lower than the peak reached since the emergence of the delta variant. Aug. 12 was the peak for the delta period, with the moving average climbing to 104.43.

According to a report the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released last week, half of the 24 students in a Marin County, Calif., elementary school tested positive for COVID-19 after being exposed to their unvaccinated teacher in May.

“The attack rate in the two rows seated closest to the teacher’s desk was 80% (eight of 10) and was 28% (four of 14) in the three back rows,” the report, noting that the teacher was reading aloud, without a mask, to the students prior to the outbreak, said.

The teacher reported being symptomatic two days before she was tested, according to the report.

As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record publishes updates released by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.

The Arkansas Department of Health is no longer reporting confirmed and probable cases separately. The following stats were posted Monday on the Health Department’s website:

• 450,265 cumulative cases, up 882 from Sunday.

• 2,003.29 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 14.85 from Sunday.

• 3,621,949 PCR test reports, up 7,792 from Sunday.

• 9.3% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.

• 22,427 active cases, down 1,688 from Sunday.

• 6,579 active juvenile cases, down 377 from Sunday.

• 420,812 recoveries, up 2,537 from Sunday.

• 3,506,980 vaccine doses received, no change from Sunday.

• 2,683,076 doses given, up 3,725 from Sunday.

• 1,257 hospitalizations, no change from Sunday.

• 361 cases on a ventilator, up 17 from Sunday.

• 533 ICU patients, up 20 from Sunday.

• 6,912 deaths, up 33 from Sunday.

• 2,144 nursing home deaths, up two from Sunday.

• 14,416 cumulative cases in Garland County, up 24 from Sunday.

• 50.71 rolling seven-day average of new cases, no change from Sunday.

• 142,993 PCR and antigen test reports, up 293 from Sunday.

• 10.1 cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.

• 596 active cases in Garland County, down 103 from Sunday.

• 13,493 recoveries in Garland County, up 122 from Sunday.

• 327 deaths, up five from Sunday.