The state's rolling seven-day average of new cases fell below 2,000 Friday for the first time in a month, as the 2,129 new cases reported Friday replaced the 2,866 reported the previous Friday in the moving average.
Results recently released from a study conducted by Israeli scientists showed a third dose of Pfizer's messenger RNA-based vaccine was effective at reducing the risk of infection and severe illness.
Scientists reviewed data Israel's Health Ministry collected on booster doses given to 1.1 million Israelis 60 and older. The data showed the risk of infection fell 48-68% seven to 13 days after a third dose. Risk was reduced by 70-84% 14 to 20 days after a third dose. The risk of severe disease also fell sharply after a third dose.
In July, Israel became the first country to make boosters available to seniors who had been fully vaccinated with two shots of the Pfizer vaccine at least five months earlier.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month amended the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use authorizations to allow a third dose for immunocompromised people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has yet to recommend boosters for the general population, but the Department of Health and Human Services has announced a plan to begin expanding booster eligibility later this month.
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 Friday on the Health Department's website:
• 460,363 cumulative cases, up 2,129 from Thursday.
• 1,990.43 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 105.28 from Thursday.
• 3,671,634 PCR test reports, up 12,558 from Thursday.
• 9.4% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Thursday.
• 22,993 active cases, down 84 from Thursday.
• 7,426 active juvenile cases, up 82 from Thursday.
• 3,557,640 vaccine doses received, up 16,870 from Thursday.
• 2,732,598 doses given, up 11,728 from Thursday.
• 1,243 hospitalizations, down 47 from Thursday.
• 353 cases on ventilators, down two from Thursday.
• 527 ICU patients, down seven from Thursday.
• 7,022 deaths, up 19 from Thursday.
• 2,149 nursing home deaths, up two from Thursday.
• 14,690 cumulative cases in Garland County, up 48 from Thursday.
• 55 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down three from Thursday.
• 145,123 PCR and antigen test reports, up 521 from Thursday.
• 10.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Thursday.
• 612 active cases in Garland County, down 16 from Thursday.
• 13,744 recoveries in Garland County, up 63 from Thursday.
• 334 deaths, up one from Thursday.