COVID-19 update
As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record publishes updates released by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.
The following stats were posted Monday on the Arkansas Department of Health website:
• 149,175 cumulative confirmed cases, up 1,004 from Sunday.
• 1,588.43 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, up 5.43 from Sunday.
• 1,773,073 PCR test reports, up 9,923 from Sunday.
• 8.4% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.
• 22,867 cumulative probable cases, up 114 from Sunday.
• 17.8% cumulative antigen infection rate, no change from Sunday.
• 18,057 active confirmed and probable cases, down 693 from Sunday.
• 151,248 recoveries of confirmed and probable cases, up
1,758 from Sunday.
• 1,053 hospitalizations, down
23 from Sunday.
• 182 cases on a ventilator, up three from Sunday.
• 2,485 confirmed deaths, up
48 from Sunday.
• 228 probable deaths, up five from Sunday.
• 1,155 nursing home deaths, up 23 from Sunday.
• 3,786 cumulative confirmed cases in Garland County, up 40 from Sunday.
• 30.71 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, down 2.86 from Sunday.
• 56,107 PCR and antigen test reports, up 456 from Sunday.
• 39,593 private lab reports, up 326 from Sunday.
• 16,514 public lab reports, up
130 from Sunday.
• 7.1% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.
• 321 active confirmed cases in Garland County, down four from Sunday.
• 3,354 recoveries of confirmed cases in Garland County, up 39 from Sunday.
• 390 cumulative probable cases in Garland County, up three from Sunday.
• 88 active probable cases in Garland County, down one from Sunday.
• 111 confirmed deaths, up five from Sunday.
• Six probable deaths, no change from Sunday.
The state’s infection curve reached a new peak for the fourth day in a row Monday, continuing its ascent from the seven-day plateau that followed Thanksgiving.
The rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases has risen 14% since Thanksgiving, which concluded a 20-day period when the infection curve peaked 19 times. The curve has risen more than 110% since Halloween.
The 48 confirmed deaths reported Monday set a new high for deaths reported in a single day.
“( Monday) recorded our highest total number of deaths since the COVID-19 pandemic began,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Monday in a news release. “This high number of our friends and neighbors losing their lives is a tough reminder of our responsibility to follow the public health guidelines each day. (Today), I will be in Saline County meeting with community leaders on local strategies.”
Eleven confirmed deaths of Garland County residents have been reported since Friday, including the five reported Mon
day. It’s unclear if nursing homes contributed to the weekend increase, as the Health Department hasn’t released a nursing home report in two weeks.
The confirmed deaths of 12 county residents have been reported this month, following the 36 reported in November. Thirty-four combined confirmed deaths were reported in September and October.
The county’s infection curve continued its descent from the Nov. 14 and 17 peak, falling 9% Monday but remaining above the summer and early fall peaks.
Four of the county’s public school districts appeared on the list of districts with five or more active confirmed and probable student and staff cases the Health Department updated Monday. Twenty-one active cases were reported at Lake Hamilton, down from the 30 reported Wednesday. The district’s website reported 13 active student cases and 14 active staff cases for the week that ended Friday.
The website reported 122 students and 24 staff members in quarantine.
Sixteen active cases were reported at Lakeside, down from the 18 reported Wednesday. The district’s website reported eight active student cases and three active staff cases Monday, with 47 students and four staff members in quarantine.
Fourteen active cases were reported at the Hot Springs School District, the same number reported Wednesday. The district’s website reported one active case among students attending on-site classes and five active staff cases.
The Health Department reported seven active cases at Jessieville, up from the six reported Wednesday. The agency reported 2,205 active cases in all of the state’s public school districts Monday, up from the 2,107 reported Wednesday.
Eleven active cases were reported at National Park College, down from the 13 the Health Department reported Wednesday.