Cases down, but hospitalizations up

The infection curve has fallen more than 25% since the twoweek rise preceding Thanksgiving, but hospitalizations are up 13% since Wednesday.

The 390 COVID-19 patients in hospitals Monday were the most in more than a month, and the 170 in intensive care were the most since Oct. 27.

The infection curve rose 50% from Nov. 9 to Nov. 22. It’s fallen 26% since then, but testing has been below average. More than 5,000 polymerase chain reaction test reports were added to the state’s testing total on average during the first 24 days of the month. Fewer than 3,300 were added on average during the last five days.

Active cases were less than 6,000 Monday for the fourth consecutive day, falling 13% since the start of the Thanksgiving weekend.

A federal judge in Missouri enjoined the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from requiring most staff at CMS-regulated health care facilities to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he agreed with the preliminary injunction U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp issued Monday, warning that the mandate could cause staffing shortages at numerous facilities.

“Vaccine mandates are not the appropriate method to increase our vaccination rates, and the decision today shows that Arkansas is not alone in this position,” Hutchinson said in a news release. “My administration will continue to work with the attorney general’s office as this case moves to trial.”

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:

• 527,794 cumulative cases, up 207 from Sunday.

• 479.14 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down nine from Sunday.

• 4,226,747 PCR test reports, up 2,185 from Sunday.

• 9.1% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.

• 5,365 active cases, down 464 from Sunday.

• 1,225 active juvenile cases, down 173 from Sunday.

• 513,616 recoveries, up 670 from Sunday.

• 4,398,500 vaccine doses received, no change from Sunday.

• 3,398,672 doses given, up 2,618 from Sunday.

• 390 hospitalizations, up 27 from Sunday.

• 65 cases on ventilators, down two from Sunday.

• 170 ICU patients, up three from Sunday.

• 8,655 deaths, up two from Sunday.

• 2,269 nursing home deaths, no change from Sunday.

• 16,173 cumulative cases in Garland County, no change from Sunday.

• Three rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 0.86 from Sunday.

• 165,224 PCR and antigen test reports, up 67 from Sunday.

• 10.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.

• 58 active cases in Garland County, down seven from Sunday.

• 15,716 recoveries in Garland County, up seven from Sunday.

• 399 deaths, no change from Sunday.