COVID-19: Curve shows signs of stabilizing after four-week rise

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). (CDC via AP, File)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). (CDC via AP, File)

The infection curve fell for the third time in 29 days Thursday despite new infections reaching five figures for the second straight day.

Wednesday's record number of new reported infections ended two days of declines in the rolling seven-day average of new cases, but the moving average has fallen 6% from Sunday's peak.

Hospitalizations rose 3%, peaking for the third straight day, and active cases peaked for the second time in five days, rising 870% since Christmas. More than 3% of the state's population of more than 3 million has an active infection.

Garland County's new infections reached triple digits for the 11th time this year, but its moving average fell for the fourth time in five days. The average has fallen 14% from Saturday's peak, with the 156 new infections reported Thursday replacing the 279 reported the previous Thursday in the moving average.

The county's active case count fell for the third time in four days. Almost 2% of the county's population of more than 100,000 has an active infection.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson will hold his weekly pandemic update today at 1:30 p.m. He plans to discuss the surge in hospitalizations.

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:

• 713,643 cumulative cases, up 11,160 from Wednesday.

• 8,550.57 rolling seven-day average of new cases, up 261.43 from Wednesday.

• 4,709,066 PCR test reports, up 15,946 from Wednesday.

• 10.8% cumulative PCR infection rate, up from 10.7% Wednesday.

• 97,628 active cases, up 2,251 from Wednesday.

• 606,327 recoveries, up 8,901 from Wednesday.

• 4,843,720 vaccine doses received, up 30,300 from Wednesday.

• 3,836,853 doses given, up 5,852 from Wednesday.

• 1,640 hospitalizations, up 40 from Wednesday.

• 187 cases on ventilators, up five from Wednesday.

• 403 ICU patients, down two from Wednesday.

• 9,470 deaths, up eight from Wednesday.

• 2,316 nursing home deaths, up one from Wednesday.

• 19,488 cumulative cases in Garland County, up 156 from Wednesday.

• 154.57 rolling seven-day average of new cases, down 17.57 from Wednesday.

• 181,151 PCR and antigen test reports, up 482 from Wednesday.

• 11.1% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Wednesday.

• 1,771 active cases in Garland County, down 18 from Wednesday.

• 17,281 recoveries in Garland County, up 174 from Wednesday.

• 436 deaths, no change from Wednesday.

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