Eight straight days of rises in the infection curve ended Sunday, but Monday's rise marked the 11th time in 13 days that the curve has risen.
The rolling seven-day average of new cases was at its highest point in more than five weeks Monday, rising 50% in the last 13 days. Active cases fell for the second straight day Monday, falling below 6,000 for the first time since Thursday. Hospitalizations rose for the fifth time in six days, reaching their highest point since Oct. 30.
Garland County's infection curve has risen 65% in the last 13 days, but its rolling seven-day average remained in the single digits for the 31st straight day Monday.
"We are doing much better than the state as a whole, and our per capita rate is lower than that of all of the more populated counties in the state," Dr. Gene Shelby, the county's health officer, told the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force Monday, according to a city of Hot Springs news release. "But we can't be complacent. We still have this highly contagious virus in our community, and we are just starting our winter and holiday seasons when it can spread like wildfire."
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 Monday on the Health Department's website:
• 524,440 cumulative cases, up 270 from Sunday.
• 647 rolling seven-day average of new cases, up 17 from Sunday.
• 4,199,504 PCR test reports, up 2,172 from Sunday.
• 9.1% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.
• 5,971 active cases, down 356 from Sunday.
• 1,690 active juvenile cases, down 193 from Sunday.
• 509,693 recoveries, up 619 from Sunday.
• 4,370,110 vaccine doses received, no change from Sunday.
• 3,349,287 doses given, up 2,812 from Sunday.
• 333 hospitalizations, up 19 from Sunday.
• 62 cases on ventilators, down one from Sunday.
• 144 ICU patients, up 12 from Sunday.
• 8,620 deaths, up five from Sunday.
• 2,267 nursing home deaths, no change from Sunday.
• 16,149 cumulative cases in Garland County, up three from Sunday.
• Eight rolling seven-day average of new cases, up 0.29 from Sunday.
• 164,000 PCR and antigen test reports, up 58 from Sunday.
• 10.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Sunday.
• 86 active cases in Garland County, down eight from Sunday.
• 15,664 recoveries in Garland County, up 11 from Sunday.
• 399 deaths, no change from Sunday.