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's website:
• 266,987 cumulative confirmed cases, up 131 from Wednesday.
• 84.71 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, down 5.86 from Wednesday.
• 3,060,734 PCR test reports, up 2,171 from Wednesday.
• 8.7% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.
• 74,902 cumulative probable cases, up 66 from Wednesday.
• 14.5% cumulative antigen infection rate, no change from Wednesday.
• 334,313 recoveries of confirmed and probable cases, up 174 from Wednesday.
• 1,673 active confirmed and probable cases, up 15 from Wednesday.
• 2,647,22o vaccine doses received, up 3,500 from Wednesday.
• 1,993,153 doses given, up 6,346 from Wednesday.
• 180 hospitalizations, down 10 from Wednesday.
• 38 cases on a ventilator, up one from Wednesday.
• 78 ICU patients, down five from Wednesday.
• 4,635 confirmed deaths, up seven from Wednesday.
• 1,207 probable deaths, no change from Wednesday.
• 2,091 nursing home deaths, down one from Wednesday.
• 8,686 cumulative confirmed cases in Garland County, up 10 from Wednesday.
• 3.71 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, up 0.28 from Wednesday.
• 118,431 PCR and antigen test reports, up 48 from Wednesday.
• 90,282 public lab reports, up 47 from Wednesday.
• 28,149 private lab reports, up one from Wednesday.
• 8.5% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.
• 48 active confirmed cases in Garland County, up six from Wednesday.
• 8,426 recoveries of confirmed cases in Garland County, up four from Wednesday.
• 1,660 cumulative probable cases in Garland County, up one from Wednesday.
• 16 active probable cases in Garland County, down seven from Wednesday.
• 212 confirmed deaths, no change from Wednesday.
• 49 probable deaths, no change from Wednesday.
The number of fully vaccinated Garland County residents increased by fewer than 2% since May 25, according to a report the Health Department provided Thursday.
Just over 500 people achieved full vaccination during the nine days, raising the number of fully vaccinated residents to 27,948, or 32.33% of the county population 12 and older. More than 30% of whites and 18.30% of African Americans 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
The number of county residents who have received at least one dose of vaccine increased by 508, raising the number to 34,857.
A review of census data by researchers at the University of Michigan found direct payments provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and the American Rescue Plan Act helped households weather the economic fallout of the pandemic.
Their analysis of the census' House Pulse Survey found respondents reported lower rates of food insufficiency, financial instability, depression and anxiety after passage of the two relief bills. Rates of food insufficiency and financial instability fell 40% and 45%. Rates of anxiety and depression fell 20%.
"The delivery of robust, primarily cash-based assistance to U.S. households was followed by major declines in material hardship," the report said. " ... Our analyses thus far have yielded a fairly simple story: throughout the crisis, the level of hardship faced by U.S. households can be directly linked to the federal government's response."