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 Monday on the Health Department's website:
• 365,132 cumulative cases, up 2,552 from Friday.
• 3,212,274 PCR test reports, up 11,810 from Friday.
• 8.8% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Friday.
• 10,505 active cases, up 755 from Friday.
• 2,740,690 vaccine doses received, no change from Friday.
• 2,228,825 doses given, up 15,750 from Friday.
• 766 hospitalizations, up 85 from Friday.
• 125 cases on a ventilator, up five from Friday.
• 291 ICU admissions, up 51 from Friday.
• 6,007 deaths, up 15 from Friday.
• 2,095 nursing home deaths, up three from Friday.
• 11,174 cumulative cases in Garland County, up 98 from Friday.
• 125,229 PCR and antigen test reports, up 929 from Friday.
• 8.8% cumulative PCR infection rate, up 0.1% from Friday.
• 371 active cases in Garland County, up three from Friday.
• 10,534 recoveries in Garland County, up 92 from Friday.
• 268 deaths, up two from Friday.
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System has passed the 50,000 COVID-19 vaccination mark, including more than 44,000 veteran vaccinations, according to a news release from CAVHS on Friday.
To date, CAVHS has vaccinated approximately 44.5% of its enrolled veteran population and about 84% of its staff, the release said.
Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are offered at both the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock and the Eugene J. Towbin VA Medical Center in North Little Rock. A mobile vaccination team travels to CAVHS' eight Community Based Outpatient Clinics, including one in Hot Springs, on a weekly basis.
According to last week's Department of Veterans Affairs COVID-19 National Summary, there are 154 active cases in the state, up 28 cases in one week. CAVHS is tracking 89 active cases with 17 being cared for in its Little Rock COVID-19 wards.
Over the past month, the delta variant has "spread rapidly into Arkansas. Research shows that COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against the virus and widespread vaccination can prevent unnecessary deaths and hospitalizations."
"All Veterans, their caregivers and family members are encouraged to get vaccinated to help stem the tide of COVID-19 in Arkansas," the release said.