The number of new cases of Covid-19 in Arkansas has dropped back down to where it was in July, providing relief for healthcare workers and additional space in hospitals for non-Covid patients. Active cases in the state peaked at 25,735 Aug. 14 and stood at nearly half that rate Sept. 27 to 12,779 cases.
In Carroll County, active cases Sept. 27 were 80 compared to 231 in the middle of August, and only 45 new cases, down 58 percent in the past two weeks. One additional death was reported last week bringing the county’s total to 67. There have been an estimated 4,134 confirmed cases of Covid in the county since the pandemic began.
“We are celebrating that the surge has dropped back down to where it was in July,” Dr. Dan Bell, co-founder of the ECHO Clinic, said. “I’m so pleased to see the surge winding down in Arkansas, but we need to recognize we are not done with Covid. Starting with the Thanksgiving holiday season, it will surge back up again. Now is the time to prepare for that and get people vaccinated. Please get the kids vaccinated who are eligible. While things are looking better, we should still be wearing masks and social distancing in public.”
If you have never been vaccinated, he recommends the Moderna as it seems to be a somewhat better vaccine that is lasting longer. But the Pfizer shot has been approved for a third shot, a booster, six months after the second shot for those who are over 65 years of age, those who have immune system problems and those whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure puts them at high risk of serious complications. Pfizer has been approved for ages 12 and above. Moderna is approved for 18 and above and has not yet been approved for a booster, but that is expected soon.
“It is a little confusing,” Bell said. “The important thing is just encouraging people to get vaccinated. The biggest group with active infections now is people under 18, the next biggest group is 18-25 and the next highest group at risk are those over 25 years old. Young people are the ones getting sick now.”
Carroll County has been downgraded from very high risk for spread of Covid to high risk due to only about 37 percent of the population being fully vaccinated. It is estimated that one in seven residents of the county have been infected with some people coming down with long-term health problems, which is known as long Covid.
For the past two weeks, the Eureka Springs School District has had less than three active cases of Covid among students and staff, school nurse Meghan Wolfinbarger said. Statewide there have been an estimated 18,000 new cases of Covid among staff and students in public schools.
The highly contagious Delta variant is now dominant in the northwest where it has overwhelmed the healthcare system. Funeral homes in Idaho have reported running out of space. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned states such as Idaho and Alaska are in such dire straits that healthcare has to be rationed.
“In those areas, healthcare workers who were already stressed and overwhelmed have to decide who gets care and who does not,” Bell said. “It is going to create some terrible burnout out there. It is really a tragic situation.”
Bell predicts that while things are going to get better with this pandemic in the short-term, it is increasingly apparent that it is going to shift to a chronic battle like with influenza virus.
“We are not done with this,” Bell said. “We still fight the influenza virus with an annual vaccine. Almost certainly, that is what will happen with Covid. Probably once a year we will get a booster shot that will take care of Covid and the flu. They will modify the Covid vaccine to match the deadliest variants that have been isolated. Maybe some of the vaccine resistant will realize they are going to be vulnerable year-after-year if they don’t get vaccinated.”
One benefit of vaccination is being able to travel internationally. Some countries require proof of vaccination in order to enter the country. Bell said airplane travel appears to be relatively safe, but the U.S. is considered a hot spot and some countries are still not allowing Americans to enter. The CDC advises against international travel unless you have been vaccinated.
Catherine Pappas, community liaison with the Eureka Springs Hospital, said they gave 42 shots at the most recent Friday clinic with 32 of those being boosters. The Pfizer vaccine is expected to approved very soon for ages 5-11, which could help make it safer to attend school and participate in extracurricular activities. Pappas said once the vaccine is approved for 5-11 year old children, the hospital will make appointments to go to the schools to give shots so their parents don’t have to take them out of school.
“We went to the middle school this past week and gave 18 shots to those 12 and over,” Pappas said. “Most were second shots. People are understanding the urgency of getting children immunized to protect them. We were seeing a lot of firsts in the beginning, but not as many seconds. Now a lot people are definitely following through with their second shots. I’m explaining to people you aren’t fully vaccinated with just one shot.”
The hospital is continuing giving free shots of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays. Vaccines are also available at Smith Drug in Eureka Springs on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:30 and 5 p.m. Call (479) 253-9175 for an appointment. The Holiday Island Pharmacy is also offering free Moderna vaccinations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointments are necessary. Pfizer boosters will be offered each Thursday by appointment only. Call (479) 239-2121.