SFC sees 50 new Covid cases, seven virus deaths this month

Nearly 50 new cases of Covid have been diagnosed in St. Francis County this month.

The Arkansas Department of Health reports 7,077 people in SFC have had the virus in the two years since the first case was diagnosed in the state.

The ADH report also shows that seven more SFC residents died this month from Covid, bringing that total to 91 since the pandemic began.

In addition, 44 SFC residents have recovered from the virus this month, and 328 of those who were tested for it were negative.

Throughout this seven-county region, which also includes Lee, Cross, Crittenden, Phillips, Monroe and Woodruff counties, 599 people have died from the virus over the past two years, with 24 of those deaths occurring this month.

The number of confirmed cases in the region has increased by 372 this month. Crittenden

County accounts for the majority of those with 196 new cases, according to the ADH.

Monroe County has seen the fewest new cases this month, with only two reported to date. That county is also the only county in this region where no new Covid deaths have been reported this month.

The Centers for Disease Control has lowered the community transmission level for Covid in St. Francis County from high to substantial. That rate continues to remain high in Lee, Cross, Crittenden and Woodruff counties.

The CDC also shows the vaccination rate in SFC has basically leveled off.

At the beginning of this year, 50.5% of those ages 5 and over were reported as fully vaccinated. Today, the CDC shows that 53% of this population group is fully vaccinated.