The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health said the delta plus variant may be circulating in the state.
"The delta plus variant of the virus has been shown to be more transmissible than delta," the college said in its Oct. 24 through Nov. 8 brief. "If delta plus becomes the dominant COVID-19 variant in Arkansas, then a high rate of daily transmission could become the springboard for the next COVID-19 surge."
The college predicted the state's infection curve will continue on the trajectory it's traced in recent weeks. The rolling seven-day average of new cases has been between 500 and 420 for more than two weeks.
"The current pandemic would seem to be in the trough of a wave, with the trend in cases being almost flat with slight daily fluctuations," the college said. "Despite being in a trough, the state will have around 500 new COVID-19 cases per day. This is a fairly high level, which could become a problem."
Sixty-five percent of Americans expect the pandemic to affect their Thanksgiving celebrations, according to the personal finance website WalletHub, with 15% of that group expecting the effect to be significant.
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. The following stats were posted Tuesday on the Health Department's website:
• 517,000 cumulative cases, up 614 from Monday.
• 429.57 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 3.86 from Monday.
• 4,129,949 PCR test reports, up 4,892 from Monday.
• 9.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Monday.
• 4,360 active cases, up 86 from Monday.
• 1,173 active juvenile cases, up 98 from Monday.
• 503,974 recoveries, up 513 from Monday.
• 4,129,949 vaccine doses received, up 4,895 from Monday.
• 3,221,933 doses given, up 13,556 from Monday.
• 288 hospitalizations, down one from Monday.
• 63 cases on ventilators, down two from Monday.
• 129 ICU patients, up three from Monday.
• 8,522 deaths, up 14 from Monday.
• 2,258 nursing home deaths, no change from Monday.
• 16,038 cumulative cases in Garland County, up five from Monday.
• 4.85 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 0.58 from Monday.
• 162,160 PCR test reports, up 192 from Monday.
• 10.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Monday.
• 52 active cases in Garland County, down three from Monday.
• 15,589 recoveries in Garland County, up eight from Monday.
• 397 deaths, no change from Monday.