COVID-19 daily numbers again top 2,000; NWA hospitals note concern about staff shortages

New confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths reported Wednesday (Dec. 9) by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) rose by 34 to 2,786. While hospitalizations and ventilator use declined, new confirmed and probable cases again topped 2,000.

Total confirmed and probable cumulative cases rose by 2,327 to 176,652, and active cases rose by 304 to 18,765. The number of hospitalizations fell by 17 to 1,064.

A report Tuesday from a coalition of Northwest Arkansas community and healthcare organizations said hospitals could be in a “tough staffing situation” if COVID cases continue to rise.

“With us not quite two weeks out from Thanksgiving and upcoming holiday celebrations just weeks apart, we have grave concern that our hospitalizations will continue to rise, and we will be in a very tough staffing situation. In person gatherings, without safe practices, have proven to increase the spread of the virus. Increased community spread translates into increased hospitalizations. While we are holding steady in caring for our patients with quality and compassionate care, if this continues, we will overstress our healthcare systems and workforce that cares for all of us,” noted the Northwest Arkansas report.

EDUCATION CASES
The ADH also reported Dec. 7 that active COVID cases in public schools and colleges and universities continue to rise. Following are the ADH numbers on education institutions.

• Public schools (as of Dec. 7)
Cumulative active cases: 2,205, up from 2,107 on Dec. 2
Cumulative cases: 18,338, up from 16,916 on Dec. 2

• Private schools (as of Dec. 7)
Cumulative active cases: 117, down from 958 on Dec. 2
Cumulative cases: 1,039, up from 540 on Dec. 2

• Colleges and universities (as of Dec. 7)
Cumulative active cases: 473, up from 442 on Dec. 2
Cumulative cases: 8,947, up from 8,599 on Dec. 2

COVID REPORT – Dec. 9
New known COVID-19 cases, active cases, tests
• 152,369 known cumulative PCR cases, with 1,727 new community cases and 30 reported cases in correctional facilities
• 24,283 probable cases, up from 23,713 on Tuesday
• There are 14,581 active cases, up from 14,258 on Tuesday
• There were 10,806 test results provided in the previous 24 hours.
• There were 3,270 antigen tests in the previous 24 hours.

Deaths
• 2,552, up 31
• 234 probable COVID-related deaths, up 3

Hospitalizations
1,064, down 17

Ventilators
179, down 3

Recovered cases
135,214

The top five counties with new known cases reported Wednesday were: Pulaski (276), Benton (165), Washington (136), Craighead (125), and Garland (89). The counties accounted for 45.8% of the 1,418 new community cases.

As of Wednesday at 1 p.m., there were 15,246,376 U.S. cases and 287,550 deaths. Globally, there were 68,584,302 cases and 1,563,997 deaths.