County crosses the 1,000 COVID-19 case threshold

16 local coronavirusrelated deaths as pandemic rages on

ralphhardin@gmail.com Crittenden County hit an inauspicious milestone earlier this week with the 1,000th positive COVID19 case in the county.

There have also now been 16 coronavirus-related fatalities in the county as well.

The county is far from alone in seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases in the state. Arkansas passed 40,000 total positive cases on Tuesday, with numbers continuing to climb, including more than 6,700 active cases across Arkansas.

According to Governor Asa Hutchinson, the most upto- date Arkansas COVID19 numbers are:

• Cumulative Total of Positive cases: 40,489

• Active Cases: 6,704

• Recovered: 32,568

• Hospitalized: 491

• On a ventilator: 113

• Deaths: 413

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The state is averaging about 6,000 tests per day.

A snapshot of Crittenden County COVID-19 stats: Cumulative Total of Positive cases: 1,090 Active Cases: 127 Recovered: 947 Deaths: 16 Negative Cases: 7,351 Much of the state’s attention has turned to the upcoming school year.

Government, health and education leaders are working to develop the safest and most effective method of starting the 2020-2021 school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund is providing money and resources in that effort, including $10 million to create wi-fi access points for students across Arkansas who do not already have internet access. GEER will also provide approximately 20,000 devices with up to 24 months of high-speed unlimited data to lowincome students.

The state is working to contract with vendors including AT& T and TMobile to provide internet access, with the idea that ultimately the same pricing structure will be available to students and school districts using local funds where needed.

On Tuesday, Crittenden County Judge Woody Wheeless shared additional information about current COVID-19 statistics, including a chart showing the by-age breakdown of coronavirus cases.

According to the Arkansas Department of Health, the largest percentage of cases are being seen in those age 25-44, which, when combined with the group ages 45-66 account for nearly two-thirds (63%) of all Arkansas cases to date.

“I ask that you continue to do your part to further reduce this number,” said Wheeless, also reminding county residents about the governor’s mandatory face mask order that remains in effect statewide.