ADH reports higher COVID-19 cases, ending four-day downward trend

COVID-19 cases rose by 3,106 in Thursday’s (Jan. 21) Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) report, well above the 2,491 on the previous Thursday. The increase ended four consecutive days in which confirmed and probable cases declined week over week.

The increase in new cases pushed the cumulative total to 279,220. The ADH also reported that confirmed and active cases rose by 227 to 20,618. The ADH also reported 68 available ICU beds as of 2 p.m. Thursday, down from 48 on Wednesday. Confirmed and probable deaths rose by 55 to 4,496.

“The increase in new cases is disappointing & a reminder that we cannot let up in following the public health guidelines. Our vaccines are getting into the arms of Arkansans, but remember, we are totally dependent upon the supply that comes from manufacturers. Right now it is limited,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said about Thursday’s report.

The state has received 330,750 vaccines since federal distribution began Dec. 14, including 18,525 delivered within the past 24 hours. Vaccines administered in the previous 24 hours rose by 14,428 to 179,127, or 54.2% of vaccines received.

The federal program in which CVS and Walgreens is managing vaccinations in nursing homes and other long term care facilities has received 49,400 vaccines since Dec. 28. Vaccines administered rose by 162 to 6,978, or 14.1% of vaccines received.

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement also reported Thursday that 175 Arkansas school districts have COVID-19 infection rates of 50 or more new known infections per 10,000 district residents over a 14-day period, down from 201 a week ago. Of those districts, 22 have 14-day COVID-19 infection rates of 100 or more new known infections per 10,000 district residents, or more than 1% of local residents, down from 54 districts last week.

The infections are among community residents living within the geographical boundaries of the school districts and are not specific to school employees and students.

COVID REPORT – Jan 21
New known COVID-19 cases, active cases, tests
• 224,243 known cumulative PCR cases, with 1,947 new community cases and 9 reported cases in correctional facilities
• 54,977 probable cases, up from 53,827 on Wednesday
• There are 14,578 active cases, down from 14,613 on Wednesday
• There were 10,413 test results provided in the previous 24 hours.
• There were 2,825 antigen tests in the previous 24 hours.

Deaths
• 3,689, up 32
• 807 probable COVID-related deaths, up 23

Hospitalizations
1,160, down 19

Ventilators
195, down 17

Recovered cases
205,950

The top five counties with new known cases reported Thursday were: Benton (360), Pulaski (344), Washington (249), Sebastian (217), and Garland (135). The counties accounted for 42% of the 3,106 new confirmed and probable cases.

As of Thursday at 4 p.m., there were 24,570,340 U.S. cases and 408,877 deaths. Globally, there were 97,308,604 cases and 2,085,095 deaths.