Three more deaths from Covid-19 have been added to the totals estimated by the Arkansas Department of Health for Carroll County, bringing the total to 112. While ADH doesn’t give out specific information about when those deaths occurred, when reporting on statewide totals the agency often indicates that the deaths occurred weeks or even months ago.
As of August 22, there were 32 news cases of Covid reported for Carroll County in the past week, although those don’t include people using free test kits that have been available free through the government. Some people report having only a mild illness while others say it took them several weeks to recover. Even people with the two primary shots and two boosters can catch this Covid variant, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said fully vaccinated and boosted people are protected from hospitalization and death.
The active cases statewide were estimated at 11,378 August 22 compared to 11,900 a week earlier. The state’s death total reported by ADH is 11,861.
The CDC lists community spread in Carroll County as low.
“Many people in the United States have some protection, or immunity, against Covid-19 due to vaccination, previous infection, or both,” CDC states. “This immunity, combined with the availability of tests and treatments, has greatly reduced the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from Covid-19 for many people. At the same time, some people—such as those who are older, are immunocompromised, have certain disabilities, or have certain underlying health conditions—continue to be at higher risk for serious illness.”
State hospitalizations for Covid have dropped to 294. In Northwest Arkansas, 42 patients are hospitalized with Covid infections, 19 are in ICU and five are on ventilators. Eureka Springs Hospital reported recently that about 18 percent of people being tested for Covid are positive. Those levels are of less concern than earlier in the pandemic because the current variant is not causing as severe illness in most people. Covid testing is free, but an appointment is required by calling the hospital at (479) 253-7400.
Eureka Springs School started back August 15 without the mask requirements of the past two years.
“We anticipated every disease in Carroll County to be brought to school this past week, and we nailed it,” School Supt. Bryan Pruitt said. “It is just the typical bug stuff going around including a stomach virus. We’ve had some Covid, but it has been amongst staff. None of the kids have had it but a few staff members got it who were all in one group the week before school started doing in-service training. I think they will be back tomorrow and Wednesday. We did have another vaccination clinic this past Friday. It was kind of so-so. According to our nurses, you have to be at least 50 to get the fourth shot. We have a lot of younger people on staff. I did get my fourth one. I also got my flu shot.”
Pruitt said they hope to be able to continue without masks for protection.
“We will have to play this by ear and see how this goes,” Pruitt said. “Covid is probably something we will have to deal with from now on.”