COVID-19 update: New round of vaccinations begins

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). - Image by CDC via The Associated Press
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). - Image by CDC via The Associated Press

As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record publishes updates released by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.

The following stats were posted Monday on the Arkansas Department of Health website:

• 219,957 cumulative confirmed cases, up 988 from Sunday.

• 1,596.86 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, down 5.85 from Sunday.

• 2,282,211 PCR test reports, up 9,513 from Sunday.

• 9.6% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.

• 275,000 vaccine doses received, no change from Sunday.

• 133,962 doses given, up 2,940 from Sunday.

• 52,307 cumulative probable cases, up 121 from Sunday.

• 19.5% cumulative antigen infection rate, down from 19.7% Sunday.

• 22,794 active confirmed and probable cases, down 2,093 from Sunday.

• 245,096 recoveries of confirmed and probable cases, up 3,170 from Sunday.

• 1,263 hospitalizations, down eight from Sunday.

• 216 cases on a ventilator, down five from Sunday.

• 3,585 confirmed deaths, up 23 from Sunday.

• 758 probable deaths, up nine from Sunday.

• 1,747 nursing home deaths, up 15 from Sunday.

• 6,428 cumulative confirmed cases in Garland County, up 59 from Sunday.

• 74.29 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, down 0.14 from Sunday.

• 79,763 PCR and antigen test reports, up 354 from Sunday.

• 59,169 private lab reports, up 309 from Sunday.

• 20,594 public lab reports, up 45 from Sunday.

• 9.0% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.

• 615 active confirmed cases in Garland County, up 16 from Sunday.

• 5,668 recoveries of confirmed cases in Garland County, up 74 from Sunday.

• 1,114 cumulative confirmed cases in Garland County, up one from Sunday.

• 154 active probable cases in Garland County, down 24 from Sunday.

• 155 confirmed deaths, up one from Sunday.

• 32 probable deaths, up one from Sunday.

People 70 and older, educators and day care workers became eligible for vaccination Monday, three groups comprising more than 360,000 people, according to the vaccine plan the Health Department released last week.

The plan identified Garland County as one of 11 counties capable of storing Pfizer's vaccine. Garland is the only county in southwest Arkansas that can store doses at the required minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit. The plan identified Village Health Mart Pharmacy and Compounding on Highway 7 north as one of the state's 17 hub pharmacies, locations capable of keeping doses at the required temperature.

The plan said Pfizer's vaccine can be stored in dry ice for 30 days. Doses held longer than 30 days have to be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit. The plan said doses are shipped to hub pharmacies. The 76 point-of-use pharmacies coordinate with the hubs to receive their allocations.

According to Health Department information, the state has received no new doses from the federal government since Thursday.

The 60 new confirmed and probable cases reported Monday in Garland County ranked fourth statewide, but the county's polymerase chain reaction-confirmed infection curve fell for the third-straight day. Monday's 74.29 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases was 33% lower than the peak reached the previous Monday.

The state's PCR-confirmed infection curve has traced a similar trajectory since peaking Jan. 11. Monday's 1,596.86 average was 26% lower than last week's peak. The 22,794 active confirmed and probable cases reported Monday were the fewest of the year and almost 20% lower than the Jan. 9 peak.

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