State learned lessons, UAMS report says

Two years into the pandemic, the state has learned lessons it can use to improve public health practices, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health said in its March report.

COVID-19 infections come in waves, which don’t follow a seasonal pattern. The state’s infection levels surged in the winters of 2021 and 2022 and the summer of 2021. The college said the waves coincided with waning immunity in the population.

Vaccines can prevent infection and are “very good” at preventing serious disease, hospitalizations and death, the college said, noting that booster shots improve the effectiveness of vaccines. Immunity through vaccination is safer than acquiring it through infection.

“There is no risk of serious illness, hospitalization or death from the vaccine,” the college said.

The public’s focus on the pandemic sharpens when infections are surging, “as evidenced by the history of COVID testing and vaccine uptake in the state,” the college said.

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 Thursday on the Health Department’s website:

• 832,205 cumulative cases, up 258 from Wednesday.

• 577 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 28.43 from Wednesday.

• 5,046,792 PCR test reports, up 2,900 from Wednesday.

• 11.6% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.

• 1,442 active cases, down 46 from Wednesday.

• 245 active juvenile cases, down 15 from Wednesday.

• 819,362 recoveries, up 291 from Wednesday.

• 4,967,850 vaccine doses received, up 14,600 from Wednesday.

• 3,979,704 doses given, up 1,181 from Wednesday.

• 141 hospitalizations, down five from Wednesday.

• 34 cases on ventilators, down three from Wednesday.

• 46 ICU patients, down nine from Wednesday.

• 11,165 deaths, up 13 from Wednesday.

• 2,366 nursing home deaths, up three from Wednesday.

• 23,237 cumulative cases in Garland County, up two from Wednesday.

• 26.71 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 0.58 from Wednesday.

• 196,480 PCR and antigen test reports, up 105 from Wednesday.

• 12.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.

• 31 active cases in Garland County, down two from Wednesday.

• 22,704 recoveries in Garland County, up four from Wednesday.

• 502 deaths, no change from Wednesday.