County’s infection curve falls below two

Garland County’s infection curve traced its lowest point since the early months of the pandemic Thursday, with the rolling seven-day average of new cases receding below two.

The moving average peaked above 180 in early February, when omicron was the dominant variant. Public health officials have said the BA.2 omicron subvariant has overtaken its parent as the dominant mutation.

The county’s surveillance was at its height during the winter omicron wave, with an average of more than 400 test reports a day added to the county’s testing total in January and more than 200 added on average in February. Fewer than 50 reports have been added on average during the first week of April.

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:

• 833,485 cumulative cases, up 105 from Wednesday.

• 80.43 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 0.28 from Wednesday.

• 5,081,383 PCR test reports, up 2,132 from Wednesday.

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

• 1,022 active cases, up 30 from Wednesday.

• 142 active juvenile cases, up five from Wednesday.

• 820,926 recoveries, up 70 from Wednesday.

• 5,010,350 vaccine doses received, up 1,600 from Wednesday.

• 4,001,516 doses given, up 2,951 from Wednesday.

• 95 hospitalizations, down one from Wednesday.

• 23 cases on ventilators, no change from Wednesday.

• 35 ICU patients, up two from Wednesday.

• 11,301 deaths, up five from Wednesday.

• 2,384 nursing home deaths, up three from Wednesday.

• 23,273 cumulative cases in Garland County, up three from Wednesday.

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

• 197,297 PCR and antigen test reports, up 60 from Wednesday.

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

• 34 active cases in Garland County, no change from Wednesday.

• 22,732 recoveries in Garland County, up two from Wednesday.

• 507 deaths, up one from Wednesday.