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 Thursday on the Arkansas Department of Health website:
• 224,243 cumulative confirmed cases, up 1,956 from Wednesday.
• 1,434.86 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, up 31.57 from Wednesday.
• 2,315,535 PCR test reports, up 13,401 from Wednesday.
• 9.7% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.
• 330,750 vaccine doses received, up 18,525 from Wednesday.
• 179,127 doses given, up 14,428 from Wednesday.
• 54,977 cumulative probable cases, up 1,150 from Wednesday.
• 19.5% cumulative antigen infection rate, up 19.4% from Wednesday.
• 20,618 active confirmed and probable cases, up 227 from Wednesday.
• 254,076 recoveries of confirmed and probable cases, up 2,824 from Wednesday.
• 1,160 hospitalizations, down 19 from Wednesday.
• 195 cases on a ventilator, down 17 from Wednesday.
• 375 ICU admissions, down 13 from Wednesday.
• 3,689 confirmed deaths, up 32 from Wednesday.
• 807 probable deaths, up 23 from Wednesday.
• 1,794 nursing home deaths, up 33 from Wednesday.
• 6,613 cumulative confirmed cases in Garland County, up 101 from Wednesday.
• 58.71 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, down 1.72 from Wednesday.
• 81,389 PCR and antigen test reports, up 718 from Wednesday.
• 60,388 private lab reports, up 394 from Wednesday.
• 21,001 public lab reports, up 324 from Wednesday.
• 9.1% cumulative PCR infection rate, up from 9.0% Wednesday.
• 569 active confirmed cases in Garland County, up 35 from Wednesday.
• 5,886 recoveries of confirmed cases in Garland County, up 64 from Wednesday.
• 1,172 cumulative probable cases in Garland County, up 32 from Wednesday.
• 132 active probable cases in Garland County, up three from Wednesday.
• 158 confirmed deaths, up two from Wednesday.
• 33 probable deaths, up one from Wednesday.
The nine-day decline in the polymerase chain reaction-confirmed infection curve ended Thursday, with the 1,956 new confirmed cases replacing the 1,735 reported the previous Thursday in the rolling seven-day average.
Thursday's reported cases bucked what had been an encouraging trend, underscoring the mercurial nature of the infection curve.
"The increase in new cases is disappointing and a reminder that we cannot let up in following the public health guidelines," Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday in a news release. "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."
The Health Department reported the state's vaccine inventory has grown by almost 200,000 doses this week, with more than half of the 330,000 received through Thursday injected into Arkansans. The number doesn't include the almost 50,000 doses for nursing home staff and residents provided through a federal contract with Walgreens and CVS pharmacies. Less than 15% of those doses have been administered.
The more than 130 confirmed and probable cases reported Thursday in Garland County were the fifth most in the state, but the county's PCR-confirmed infection curve was slightly lower than Wednesday's moving seven-day average. The 101 confirmed cases reported Thursday replaced the 113 reported the previous Thursday in the rolling seven-day average. Active confirmed cases rose 35 from Wednesday's count.
The nursing home report the Health Department updated Tuesday reported 23 new infections in Garland County nursing homes during the previous 14 days. Five county facilities were listed in Tuesday's report. The eight new resident and staff cases reported at Good Samaritan Society-Hot Springs Village were the most in the county.
Several of last year's reports listed more than 100 new infections in county nursing homes over a 14-day period.