10,000th COVID-19 case recorded in Crittenden County

Local pandemic death toll approaching 200 as new cases spike with new year

ralphhardin@gmail.com New year, same story… at least as far as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is concerned.

In fact, in terms of new cases, it is as bad or worse than it has ever been. On New Year’s Eve, Crittenden County saw its highest number of new cases in a single day since the start of the pandemic in March of 20202. There were 262 new cases of the coronavirus reported on Dec. 31, bringing the total number of local COVID-19 cases to 10,194, or more than 20% of the total population of Crittenden County having tested positive for the virus.

Another coronavirus-related fatality was also recorded locally, making 190 deaths due to COVID-19.

As much as the spike in new cases might be alarming, health officials say those figures are actually likely under-reporting true figures as testing shortages, at-home testing and even bad weather might be leaving many cases unlogged.

As for that bad weather, icy conditions and plummeting temperatures over the weekend resulted in local schools being canceled, giving state health and education officials an extra day to determine what actions might need to be taken to ensure the safety of staff and students as they return from the Christmas break.