In the past month there have been eight additional deaths from Covid-19 in Carroll County reported by the Arkansas Department of Health, with six of those being added in the past two weeks. The ADH shows deaths at 107 on July 25 compared to 115 August 26. The additional deaths represent almost ten percent of the deaths reported for the county since the pandemic began in early 2020.
Deaths listed for Carroll County in the past month represent about 7.5 percent of the county’s total for the pandemic.
Active cases for Carroll County for the current surge peaked at 143 on July 25 and were estimated at 59 as of July 29. Eureka Springs Hospital reports seven positive tests out of 56 tests administered between August 21 and August 28, a positivity rate of 12.5 percent. Active cases reported to the state have increased slightly in the past week from 11,378 to 11,468. Hospitalizations statewide were reported at 318 as of August 29.
“There are currently many more cases in the community than get reported to us,” ADH Director Dr. Jennifer A. Dillaha wrote in an email to the Independent. “So, the reported cases are very different from the true count. In the past, a higher proportion of the cases were being reported to us, so our case counts were closer to the true count. Consequently, the proportion of people who die may seem to be a higher proportion of the cases than in the past, because a smaller proportion of the cases are being reported to ADH.
“Reports of deaths attributed to Covid may be delayed for several reasons, and ADH makes a best effort to attribute all Covid-related deaths as soon as the information is available. Approximately 25 percent of Carroll County’s deaths attributed to Covid have a date of death within this calendar year.”
Citizen scientist Crystal Ursin said the additional deaths are concerning.
“That is a lot,” Ursin said. “I wish they were actually keeping a better count of cases. One of my friends recently tested positive. Her doctor said don’t bother calling ADH; they don’t keep track of anyone tested at home. So, we have a lot more positives than we think we do. And I think they are doing that on purpose to make it look not as bad as it is.”
Ursin sees few people wearing masks or social distancing. She has stopped wearing a mask in stores but goes during off hours when few people are shopping, or she gets curbside pickup. She doesn’t think she can totally avoid being exposed to Covid.
“It seems it will always be here no matter what we do,” she said. “I wish more people would at least go shop during off hours or social distance. But people are just tired of wearing masks and doing precautionary measures. I still don’t eat inside restaurants, and I am definitely still social distancing. I tend to stay at least ten feet away from people.”
She was concerned about recent reports that a local homeless man tested positive and was seen shopping at a local grocery store while he was still positive. The man defended his behavior by saying he needed food. Answering the Call delivers free frozen dinner food deliveries once a week, but that doesn’t help someone who is homeless, and doesn’t have a freezer or a microwave.
Ursin is concerned there could be many people going and doing what they want even if they know they have Covid.
“I have the home tests and I test at least once a week,” Ursin said. “At least I know I am not positive when I go out.”
Recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed Carroll County from low to medium risk for community spread of Covid-19. CDC changed the risk in Arkansas from medium to high. Covid ActNow states that Arkansas has higher vulnerability than most states, with 36 percent of the population in a high vulnerability area.
“Communities with higher vulnerability have pre-existing economic, social, and physical conditions that may make it hard to respond to and recover from a Covid outbreak,” Covid ActNow states on its website. Arkansas ranks very high for housing and transport problems, and for older age and health problems. The state’s ranking is high for health system challenges, hospital bed availability, unemployment and low income. It ranks medium for crowded living and working areas, low for minorities and non-English speakers, and very low for population density.
About half of people in Carroll County are fully vaccinated, and 21 percent have had at least one booster. That compares an average vaccination rate of 67 percent in the U.S., with a booster rate of 33 percent.