Active cases among the 18 and younger demographic have increased 36% in the last 10 days, a trend the state college of public health noted in the report it released Tuesday with its updated predictive model.
"Pediatric cases are continuing to increase at a faster rate than cases in adults, and are making up a larger proportion of the COVID-19 caseload in the state," the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health said. "Hopefully, this trend can be brought under control now that vaccines have been approved for children 5 to 11.
"However, if vaccination rates among Arkansas children 12-to-17 years old are indicative of what to expect in children under 12, then we are not optimistic enough children will be vaccinated to effectively control new COVID-19 infections."
The state said Tuesday that 51.2% of 12- to 18-year-olds have received at least one vaccine dose. Less than 5% of 5- to 11-year-olds have been vaccinated.
Active cases among all ages have increased 18% in the last 10 days and have been over 5,000 four out of the last five days. They fell below 5,000 Oct. 25 for the first time since July 6, remaining below 5,000 for 19-consecutive days.
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 Wednesday on the Health Department's website:
• 521,553 cumulative cases, up 828 from Tuesday.
• 554 rolling seven-day average of new cases, up 21.86 from Tuesday.
• 4,174,904 PCR test reports, up 6,571 from Tuesday.
• 9.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Tuesday.
• 5,444 active cases, up 329 from Tuesday.
• 1,594 active juvenile cases, up 157 from Tuesday.
• 507,363 recoveries, up 494 from Tuesday.
• 4,309,960 vaccine doses received, up 4,700 from Tuesday.
• 3,303,435 doses given, up 12,044 from Tuesday.
• 300 hospitalizations, up 24 from Tuesday.
• 68 cases on ventilators, up five from Tuesday.
• 129 ICU patients, up seven from Tuesday.
• 8,595 deaths, up three from Tuesday.
• 2,263 nursing home deaths, up two from Tuesday.
• 16,112 cumulative cases in Garland County, up 11 from Tuesday.
• 8.29 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 0.71 from Tuesday.
• 163,243 PCR and antigen test reports, up 172 from Tuesday.
• 10.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Tuesday.
• 81 active cases in Garland County, up two from Tuesday.
• 15,633 recoveries in Garland County, up nine from Tuesday.
• 398 deaths, no change from Tuesday.