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:
• 254,943 cumulative confirmed cases, up 306 from Wednesday.
• 271.86 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, down 38.28 from Wednesday.
• 2,719,229 PCR test reports, up 9,283 from Wednesday.
• 9.4% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.
• 68,813 cumulative probable cases, up 97 from Wednesday.
• 17.2% cumulative antigen infection rate, down from 17.3% Wednesday.
• 4,261 active confirmed cases, down 17 from Wednesday.
• 999,240 vaccine doses received, up 21,530 from Wednesday.
• 636,290 doses given, up 13,571 from Wednesday.
• 372 hospitalizations, down 25 from Wednesday.
• 85 cases on a ventilator, down six from Wednesday.
• 4,283 confirmed deaths, up 11 from Wednesday.
• 990 probable deaths, up one from Wednesday.
• 1,990 nursing home deaths, up two from Wednesday.
• 8,217 cumulative confirmed cases, up 24 from Wednesday.
• 10.14 rolling seven-day average of new confirmed cases, down 4.72 from Wednesday.
• 104,480 PCR and antigen test reports, up 571 from Wednesday.
• 79,328 private lab reports, up 307 from Wednesday.
• 25,152 public lab reports, up 264 from Wednesday.
• 8.9% cumulative PCR infection rate, down from 9.0% Wednesday.
• 138 active confirmed cases in Garland County, up eight from Wednesday.
• 7,887 recoveries of confirmed cases in Garland County, up 17 from Wednesday.
• 1,560 cumulative probable cases in Garland County, up four from Wednesday.
• 42 active probable cases in Garland County, down eight from Wednesday.
• 192 confirmed deaths, no change from Wednesday.
• 39 probable deaths, no change from Wednesday.
The 28 new infections reported Thursday in Garland County ranked third statewide, but the county's polymerase chain reaction-confirmed infection curve fell for the fourth-straight day.
The 24 new PCR-confirmed cases reported Thursday came on a busy day of testing, with more than 500 PCR and antigen test reports added to the county's total for the first time since Feb. 17. Ninety-four new PCR cases were reported the last time more than 500 total tests were added. More than 7,000 reports added Sunday were from specimens processed prior to Feb. 14, the Health Department said.
Thursday's new cases lowered the county's cumulative PCR infection rate below 9% for the first time since mid-January. No deaths have been reported in the county since Feb. 25.
The Arkansas Supreme Court issued an opinion Thursday ordering essential workers in the justice system be made eligible for vaccination. The opinion defined essential workers as circuit judges and staff with criminal and juvenile dockets, district judges, Supreme Court staff, court security officers, circuit and county clerks and staff, prosecuting attorneys and staff, public defenders and staff, private attorneys with pending in-person appearances in criminal or juvenile court and jurors.
The administrative order the high court entered last month extended the suspension of jury trials through the end of next month.
"Despite the pandemic, attorneys, circuit clerks, district courts, circuit courts and staff engage daily with numerous members of the public to protect these citizens' constitutional rights," said Thursday's opinion signed by Chief Justice John Dan Kemp. "These essential justice system workers have placed themselves in harm's way for nearly a year, with severe consequences."
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday that court system employees will have to wait their turn. The state is in Phase 1-B of its vaccine distribution plan. The 1-B group includes priority government workers, which the Health Department said includes more than 25,000 people, but eligibility has yet to reach them.
Hutchinson opened up eligibility to food and agriculture workers earlier this week, a group he said comprises 49,000 people. People 65-69 are in Phase 1-C, but Hutchinson made them eligible last month. They make up more than 100,000 people, he said.
"I appreciate the Supreme Court's concern for judges and staff members of the court system and for attorneys whose cases require them to work in person at a courthouse," Hutchinson said Thursday in a news release. "Our schedule for vaccinations takes into account the needs and risk level for all Arkansans, and this group is not yet eligible in the 1-B phase. As our allocation of vaccine increases, we will be able to move more quickly, but currently, court employees who don't otherwise qualify for a shot will have to wait for their eligibility."