COVID-19 Weekly Update: Community transmission low statewide, CDC data shows

Although prevalent at-home testing and mild COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant have somewhat complicated tracking of the virus’ spread, known active cases and hospitalizations are declining across Arkansas.

On Thursday, each of the state’s 75 counties were rated as having a low level of COVID-19 community transmission — meaning they had logged fewer than 200 new cases per 100,000 people in a week — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As COVID-19 metrics continued on their downward trajectory, Gov. Asa Hutchinson commended Arkansas’ economic recovery from the pandemic in a tweet Monday.

“The state has record low unemployment, more jobs than pre-pandemic levels, and personal earnings are up 10.5%,” Hutchinson said in the tweet.

Statewide, active COVID-19 cases fell to 1,238 Tuesday, down by 261 in a week, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Cumulative cases increased by 1,020 in a week, for a total of 832,718.

The ADH reported a statewide COVID-19 death toll of 11,211 Tuesday, up by 84 in a week.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Arkansas fell to 122 Tuesday, down by 17 in a week, according to the ADH. Statewide, 26 patients were on ventilators Tuesday, a decrease of 10 from March 22.

State health officials had administered more than 3.98 million vaccine doses to Arkansans by Tuesday, according to the ADH, with 371,783 people partially immunized and almost 1.58 million people fully immunized. Officials administered 6,405 new doses — including third and booster doses — in a week.

The nearly 1.58 million fully vaccinated Arkansans represent 55% of the state’s 5-and-up population. Nearly 70% of Americans 5 and older have been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Eighty percent of Arkansas’ vaccine supply — nearly 5 million doses — had been administered by Tuesday.

Washington County officials reported 84 active COVID-19 cases Tuesday. Benton County officials reported 90 active cases, according to the ADH. Total cumulative cases in the two counties increased by 47 and 60, respectively, in a week.

The numbers of active and cumulative COVID-19 cases on the UA campus are impossible to accurately track since Pat Walker Health Center officials stopped publicly reporting totals Feb. 21.