County sees 30 new cases, 1 death
There were 30 new COVID-19 cases reported in Union County by the Arkansas Department of Health on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative total of cases identified locally to 1,749. The cases included 1,444 confirmed cases, up 24 from Tuesday, and 305 probable cases, up six from Tuesday.
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests that determine confirmed cases are more sensitive than the antigen tests that determine probable cases.
One Union County resident’s death that resulted from COVID-19 was reported Wednesday. Sixty local residents have now died as a result of the virus, indicating a local COVID mortality rate — the percentage of those who die after contracting the virus — of 3.4%.
Active cases rose to 130,
up 17 from Tuesday; they represented 7.4% of all the cases identified locally and included 100 confirmed cases and 30 probable cases. There were 1,559 Union County residents considered recovered from the virus Wednesday, up 12 from Tuesday.
A report on COVID cases in educational institutions in Arkansas produced by the ADH on Dec. 7 showed active cases in the El Dorado School District and at South Arkansas Community College. According to the report, there were 10 active cases in the ESD; 89 cases had been identified there, 34 of which were in faculty or staff and 53 of which were in students. At SouthArk, there were eight active cases; 45 cases had been identified at the college, six in faculty and staff and 25 in students.
In the Southwest hospital region of the state, where Union County sits, 157 people were hospitalized due to the virus Wednesday, including 61 in intensive care units and 26 on ventilator support.
There have been 16,884 COVID-19 test results returned from Union County, including 15,135 negatives, indicating an overall local positivity rate of 10.4%.
In Arkansas, COVID-19 cases rose by 2,327 to reach 176,652 Wednesday. The cases in the state included 152,369 confirmed cases, up 1,757 from Tuesday, and 24,283 probable cases, up 570 from Tuesday.
Active cases grew to 18,765 Wednesday, up 304 from Tuesday; they represented 106% of all the COVID-19 cases in the state and included 14,581 confirmed cases and 4,184 probable cases. There were 155,077 Arkansans considered recovered from the virus Wednesday, up 1,989 from Tuesday.
The deaths of 34 Arkansans that resulted from COVID-19 were reported Wednesday, bringing the state’s death toll to 2,786, indicating a state COVID mortality rate of 1.6%. There were 1,064 Arkansans hospitalized due to the virus Wednesday, including 375 in ICUs and 179 on ventilator support.
The ADH reported 14,076 new test results returned Wednesday, indicating a one-day positivity rate for the state of 16.5% based on the number of new cases and results reported. Since the state began testing for COVID-19, 1,967,643 results have returned to the ADH, including 1,785,735 negatives, indicating an overall positivity rate for the state of 9%.
At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Johns Hopkins University reported 15,337,091 COVID-19 cases in the United States. Of those, 5,788,509 people were considered recovered, leaving 9,260,560 cases — 60.4% — active nationwide. There had been 288,022 deaths attributable to the virus in the U.S. by Wednesday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 1.9%.
Johns Hopkins reported 68,762,897 COVID-19 cases worldwide Wednesday afternoon. Of those, 44,195,095 people were considered recovered, leaving 23,001,857 cases — 33.5% — active around the world. There had been 1,565,945 deaths attributable to the virus by Wednesday afternoon, indicating a national COVID mortality rate of 2.3%.