Steep drop in local COVID-19 cases, state records 12,00th death

Single- digit weekly new cases in Crittenden County in September

talphhardin@gmail.com Is the COVID-19 pandemic over? Not according to health experts, but there is a lot of data to suggest that we have — at least to some degree — turned a corner in the fight against the coronavirus and all its variants here in the back half of 2022.

However, over the weekend, residents received a grim reminder that while vaccines, safety protocols and anti-COIVD-19 guidelines have helped keep number down, the threat of continued infection, illness and even death are still real.

For the month of September, Crittenden County has seen a significant drop in the number of new cases being reported, with a rolling seven-day average of just four new cases daily, including just a single case reported on Friday and several days of no new cases being reported.

However, on Saturday, 10 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the county, an uptick, but far from the triple-digit new cases being seen daily in other counties, such as Pulaski (108) and Washington (101) counties.

The number of deaths in the county had also stalled, with a total of 234 COVID19 related fatalities in Crittenden County since the start of the pandemic, and only one coronavirusrelated death in September (on Sept. 13). That streak, however, came to an end on Saturday with one additional death recorded.

Overall, more than 12,000 Arkansans have died due to COVID-19 and complications due to COVID-19 since March of 2020 when the first coronavirus cases were reported in the state.

Even now, as COVID-19 cases continue to be reported, most major health care clinics and providers have shifted focus to the 202223 flu season. Flu clinics and vaccination rallies are being planned across the state as health officials push for vaccinations this

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Data courtesy of the Arkansas Department of Health

After a summer surge in new cases of COVID-19, numbers in Crittenden County have declined over the course of September, with a single-digit new case average over the past several weeks ans no new coronavirus-related deaths reported in the past month. Arkansas continues to see hundreds of new cases daily. COVID-19 (cont.)

fall. Walmart, Kroger and Walgreens pharmacies in the area are all offering flu vaccines, as are East Arkansas Family Health Center, the Crittenden County Health Department and other local medical centers.

The Arkansas Department of Health is partnering with different organizations around the state to put on “Fight the Flu” immunization clinics, including one here in Crittenden County at the Marion First Baptist Church this Tuesday, Sept.

27, from 7:30 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m. (see ad below).

The Centers for Disease Control and the Arkansas Department of Health continue their message that the leading way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to get immunized and get a booster for those who have already received the vaccine, even of you have had the virus.

Data courtesy of ACHI.net

Currently, there are 296 individuals hospitalized in the State of Arkansas due to COVID-19. The Arkansas Department of Health encourages all Arkansans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, to get tested if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus. Athome self testing is available but if you test positive it is recommended following up with your physician.