Health officials fear another holiday spike

Groups of boaters enjoy the summer-like weather on Lake Hamilton on May 30. - Photo by Grace Brown of The Sentinel-Record
Groups of boaters enjoy the summer-like weather on Lake Hamilton on May 30. - Photo by Grace Brown of The Sentinel-Record

New infections in Garland County slowed last week after more than 20 were reported the previous week, according to Arkansas Department of Health data.

The 15 new cases reported last week followed 22 the week prior. Nine cases were reported in the three weeks leading up to Memorial Day. Forty-one were reported in the three weeks from June 1 to Sunday.

Positive tests as a percent of total tests moved from 1.3% the first week of June to 4.2% the second week and 2.6% the third week. A 2.1% combined positivity rate was reported Monday and Tuesday.

The Arkansas Department of Health said it's been unable to link the county's case increase to a workplace or other location where people are close to each other. Dr. Gene Shelby, the county's health officer, said it's likely the new cases proceeded from Memorial Day activities.

More than half of Monday's 25 active cases and the eight people who had contact with a positive case were 44 or younger, Shelby said.

"Especially because of the age group that we saw the jump in," Shelby said of the possible link to Memorial Day weekend. "I think that's the people who are out and about more than the other age groups."

Active cases dropped to 24 Tuesday. The county's rolling seven-day average of new cases was 2.14 Sunday and Monday, but three new cases reported Tuesday raised it to 2.57. It was the 15th straight day the average was at two or more after being below one for 19 consecutive days. The 3.14 average June 15 was the highest of the month.

Active cases statewide have increased 214% since Memorial Day, with 7% of the more than 10,000 test results reported since then being positive for COVID-19. The state hopes another surge doesn't manifest after the Fourth of July weekend.

"If we've learned absolutely nothing from Memorial Day, than we'll probably see the same thing," Dr. Nate Smith, Health Department secretary, said at the governor's Tuesday coronavirus briefing. "I think collectively, as a nation and a state, we can see what happens."

Shelby said he'd like to see more people wear face coverings.

"I get the sense that people want to do the right thing, but you see groups of people who aren't wearing masks," he said. "There's definitely a lot of things that can be better in those terms."

The Health Department's county unit at 1425 Malvern Ave. is offering free testing that uses a less invasive method of sample collection than the nasopharyngeal swab. The shorter swab reaches about an inch into the nose and is self-administered.

Shelby said it's his understanding that the virus' genetic material can be as prevalent in the area reached by the shorter swab as it is in the nasopharynx, where the nasal cavity and throat meet.

The Health Department said last week that the self-administered swab is also less likely to transmit the virus than the longer swab administered by health care workers. The latter increases the likelihood of aerosolizing the virus, the Health Department said.

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