COVID-19 numbers again set new daily records; total cases up almost 39% in November

The hits just keep coming. COVID-19 hospitalizations and patients on ventilators again set new daily records in Monday’s (Nov. 30) report from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). Total cases and deaths rose 38.5% and 26%, respectively, between Nov. 2 and Nov. 30.

ADH numbers show 1,063 hospitalizations in Monday’s report, a new record and up 33 over the daily record set Sunday. COVID-19 patients on ventilators rose by 16 to a new record of 201. Total cumulative known confirmed and probable cases increased Monday by 1,112 to 157,359. Total deaths rose by 32 to 2,502.

The one good part of Monday’s report was that total confirmed and probable active cases fell by 744 to 16,140.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the numbers are likely to get worse and continue to pressure the state’s healthcare system.

“Today’s increase in hospitalizations will continue to strain our health care system. Our frontline workers need our help as we head into the winter months of this pandemic. Today, I received briefings from FDA Director Hahn; Dr. Fauci and Sec. Azar on the vaccine distribution plans as well as what is needed to meet the pressure on our health care system,” Gov. Hutchinson said in a statement. “Based upon national trends and expert concerns on the holiday season, it does seem that we are in the lull before the storm. I expect the antigen testing to pick up again later in the week and that is where many of the positive cases are identified. I applaud our health department team and all the health care workers who have been so diligent during this entire pandemic.”

November has seen a significant increase in Arkansas’ COVID numbers. Between Nov. 2 and Nov. 30, total cases rose by 38.5%, deaths rose by 26%, known active cases were up 56%, hospitalizations rose by 54.5%, and ventilator use rose by 69%.

COVID REPORT – Nov. 30
New known COVID-19 cases, active cases, tests
• 138,056 known cumulative PCR cases, with 966 new community cases and no reported cases in correctional facilities
• 19,303 probable cases, up from 19,157 on Sunday
• There are 12,816 active cases, down from 13,209 on Sunday
• There were 9,669 test results provided in the previous 24 hours.
• There were 531 antigen tests in the previous 24 hours.

Deaths
• 2,295, up 30
• 207 probable COVID-related deaths, up 2

Hospitalizations
1,063, up 33

Ventilators
201, up 16

Recovered cases
122,926

The top five counties with new known cases reported Monday were: Pulaski (153), Craighead (86), Washington (64), Garland (58), and Benton (56). The counties accounted for 43.16% of the 996 new community cases.

As of Monday at 2 p.m., there were 13,457,294 U.S. cases and 267,438 deaths. Globally, there were 63,050,455 cases and 1,464,795 deaths.