As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record publishes updates released by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.
The Arkansas Department of Health is no longer reporting confirmed and probable cases separately or updating its stats on the weekend. The following stats were posted Wednesday on the Health Department's website:
• 360,258 cumulative cases, up 1,309 from Tuesday.
• 1,023.29 rolling seven-day average of new cases, up 44.15 from Tuesday.
• 3,188,604 PCR test reports, up 6,502 from Tuesday.
• 8.7% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Tuesday.
• 2,738,380 doses received, no change from Tuesday.
• 2,196,442 doses given, up 6,022 from Tuesday.
• 647 hospitalizations, up 41 from Tuesday.
• 103 cases on a ventilator, up five from Tuesday.
• 245 ICU admissions, up five from Tuesday.
• 5,977 deaths, up seven from Tuesday.
• 2,092 nursing home deaths, no change from Tuesday.
• 11,019 cumulative cases in Garland County, up 73 from Tuesday.
• 39.57 rolling seven-day average of new cases, no change from Tuesday.
• 123,537 PCR and antigen test reports, up 381 from Tuesday.
• 8.7% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Tuesday.
• 375 active cases in Garland County, up 49 from Tuesday.
• 10,378 recoveries in Garland County, up 24 from Tuesday.
• 266 deaths, no change from Tuesday.
The state's infection curve rose for the eighth-straight day Wednesday, pushing the rolling seven-day average of new cases above 1,000.
The net increase of 82 COVID-19 patients in hospitals since Monday increased hospitalizations to their highest level since Feb. 14. The number of virus patients in hospitals has risen 148% since the summer solstice as the delta variant continues to hunt the unvaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that the delta strain first identified in India accounted for 58% of confirmed cases reported nationwide from June 20 to July 3, up from 31% during the previous two-week period.
The 73 new cases reported Wednesday in Garland County didn't raise its infection curve as Wednesday's case count replaced the 73 new cases reported July 7 in the rolling-seven day average. The 73 new cases were the most reported in the county since Feb. 17.
The county's demand for testing this month has more than doubled compared to June and May. The 381 test reports added to the county's testing total Wednesday were the most since early April. On average, more than 190 test reports have been added during the first two weeks of the month. The county averaged fewer than 90 reports a day in May and June.