EDITOR'S NOTE: As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record will publish daily updates released each weekday by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.
The following stats were shared Wednesday at the state's daily COVID-19 news conference in Little Rock and posted on the Arkansas Department of Health's website:
• 5,003 confirmed cases statewide, up 80 from Tuesday.
• 96,258 tests reported, up 2,557 from Tuesday.
• 5.2% rate of infection, down from 5.3% Tuesday.
• 1,044 active cases, down 38 from Tuesday.
• 3,852 recoveries, up 113 from Tuesday.
• 107 deaths, up five from Tuesday.
• 79 cases requiring hospitalization, up one from Tuesday.
• 16 cases on a ventilator, up two from Tuesday.
• 325 nursing home residents infected, no change from Tuesday.
• 130 cases in Garland County, no change from Tuesday.
• 3,564 tests reported for Garland County, up 72 from Tuesday.
• 3.6% rate of infection, down from 3.7% Tuesday.
• 120 recoveries in Garland County, up two from Tuesday.
• Nine active cases in Garland County, down two from Tuesday.
• One death in Garland County, no change from Tuesday.
The task force organizing the local response to the coronavirus released an updated list of testing locations Wednesday:
• Garland County Health Unit, 1425 Malvern Ave., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, appointments recommended by calling 501-624-3394; no out-of-pocket cost, but insurance may be billed.
• Healthy Connections, 3604 Central Ave., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, schedule appointment by calling 888-710-8220; no out-of-pocket cost, but insurance may be billed.
• Healthy Connections, 1723 Malvern Ave., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, schedule appointment by calling 888-710-8220; no out-of-pocket cost, but insurance may be billed.
• Walmart, 1601 Albert Pike Road, pre-screening at http:// www.DoINeedaCOVID19Test.com, appointments made from 7-9 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; no out-of-pocket cost, but insurance may be billed.
• Convenient Care Clinic, 100 McGowan Court, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• Convenient Care Clinic, 4419 Hwy 7 north, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
• Lakeside Family Medicine, 124 Hollywood Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• First Care Walk-In Clinic, 120 Adcock Road, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday.
• Fountain Lake Family Medicine, 4517 Park Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The 79 new community cases the Health Department reported Wednesday raised the state's seven-day rolling average of new cases for a fourth-straight day, bumping it from 73.14 Tuesday to 74.29 Wednesday. It was the ninth day in 10-day period that the average rose, increasing by 58.7% since May 10.
The 80 total new cases, which included one from a correctional setting, reported Wednesday raised the total rolling seven-day average to 109.57. Tuesday's moving average of 108.40 ended a two-day streak of increases.
The number of recoveries reported Wednesday exceeded the number of new cases, reducing active cases from the 1,082 reported Tuesday to 1,044. Of those, 644 were in the community, 315 in correctional settings and 85 in nursing homes.
Dr. Nate Smith, Health Department secretary, said the 3,496 test results Wednesday surpassed Tuesday's record for single-day testing. Wednesday's 1.9% positivity rate was up from Tuesday's 1.5%. He said 44,240 tests have been done in May.
"We're well on our way to not only meet the 60,000 target but exceed it," Smith, referring to the state's testing goal for May, said.
Smith handled Wednesday's briefing, as Gov. Asa Hutchinson was meeting with the president and vice president in Washington, D.C.
No new cases were reported in Garland County for a second-straight day, but its moving seven-day average remained above one for a seventh-straight day on the strength of the five new cases reported May 14.
Local on 05/21/2020