After a steady decrease in new cases the last three months, Garland County saw its second straight day of double-digit increases in new cases Thursday.
It was the first consecutive double-digit increase since Oct. 21 and 22, increasing the county's infection curve by almost 50% since Tuesday. Active cases increased by 10, the biggest single-day increase since Oct. 16.
The state's infection curve rose for a second straight day Thursday, with the 673 new cases the Arkansas Department of Health reported replacing the 428 reported the previous Thursday in the rolling seven-day average. Active cases increased by 247, the largest single-day increase in more than two months. Active cases among the 18 and younger group are at their highest level since Oct. 28.
The two-day rise in the infection curve has come as new infections in Mountain West and northern states have been rising for several weeks.
Last year's fall and winter surge that pushed the state and county's infection curves to mid-January peaks began in mid-October. The county's polymerase chain reaction-confirmed rolling seven-day average was at 9.71 Oct. 11 of last year. It peaked at 110.71 three months later.
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 Thursday on the Health Department's website:
• 518,348 cumulative cases, up 673 from Wednesday.
• 483 rolling seven-day average of new cases, up 35 from Wednesday.
• 4,142,582 PCR test reports, up 6,524 from Wednesday.
• 9.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday
• 4,784 active cases, up 247 from Wednesday.
• 1,320 active juvenile cases, up 90 from Wednesday.
• 504,871 recoveries, up 403 from Wednesday.
• 4,248,690 vaccine doses received, up 24,590 from Wednesday.
• 3,248,115 doses given, up 13,399 from Wednesday.
• 299 hospitalizations, up three from Wednesday.
• 59 cases on ventilators, down seven from Wednesday.
• 127 ICU admissions, no change from Wednesday.
• 8,547 deaths, up 22 from Wednesday.
• 2,259 nursing home deaths, up one from Wednesday.
• 16,066 cumulative cases in Garland County, up 12 from Wednesday.
• 7.14 rolling seven-day average of new cases, up 0.85 from Wednesday.
• 162,514 PCR and antigen test reports, up 168 from Wednesday.
• 10.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.
• 70 active cases in Garland County, up 10 from Wednesday.
• 15,599 recoveries in Garland County, up two from Wednesday.
• 397 deaths, no change from Wednesday.