CDC reports high transmission level for Covid as cases continue decline

The community transmission level for Covid continues to remain high across the seven counties in this region of Eastern Arkansas despite a decline in the number of people testing positive for the virus over the past week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages everyone in this region to wear a mask in public, indoor settings due to the high transmission rate of the virus.

According to the Arkansas Department of Health, 294 people in this region were diagnosed with Covid over the past week, bringing the total number of virus cases to 36,538 throughout the seven counties that in addition to St. Francis include Cross, Lee, Monroe, Phillips, Crittenden and Woodruff.

The ADH shows that 39 of the 294 new cases last week were diagnosed in SFC. Crittenden County, the largest in this region, continues to see the most new cases diagnosed, and last week that number increased 115.

The ADH is reporting seven additional Covid deaths throughout this region over the past week, with three of those being in SFC. To date, 82 SFC residents have died from the virus. Monroe County added one Covid death last week, two were reported in Phillips County and one was in Crittenden County.

Throughout the region, 565 people have died from Covid during the pandemic, with 32 of those reported this month.

The CDC also shows the vaccination rates have leveled off with little change over the past week.

According to the CDC, 49% of St. Francis County’s population is fully vaccinated with 31.5% of those residents also receiving a booster shot. One week ago, the CDC reported 48.8% of the county’s eligible population was fully vaccinated. The CDC also shows that 57.9% of the county’s residents have received one dose of a vaccine.

Brodie Johnson • Times-Herald Children and staff at Teach and Tend Daycare in Forrest City celebrate ‘Twos-day’ today, as the date is 2-22-22. Some children dressed in tutu's and other garments as part of the celebration. Nora Prentice, 3, plays with a toy kitchen set while wearing her tutu and rubber boots.

Brodie Johnson • Times-Herald The filing period for the May 24 Preferential Primary Election began at noon today across the state. Candidates for county positions, such as judge, sheriff and collector, county clerk, circuit clerk, treasurer and assessor, as well as justices of the peace and constables, began filing paperwork today with St. Francis County Clerk Brandi McCoy. All positions on the Forrest City School Board and two seats on the Palestine-Wheatley School Board will also be on the May ballot. The filing period ends at noon Tuesday, March 1. SFC Chief Deputy Clerk Alan Smith, right, files paperwork with McCoy as a candidate for the SFC Circuit Clerk position.