The groundswell that was anticipated from holiday gatherings combined with the more highly contagious Covid-19 variant, omicron, has arrived locally and nationally. Carroll County saw 155 new cases the week ending Jan. 10 compared to 43 new cases a week in late December, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Carroll County active cases jumped from 83 in early January to 202 as of Jan. 10, according to ADH.
ADH reports Arkansas is seeing the highest number of active cases of the pandemic with nearly 61,112 active cases reported Jan. 10. Covid hospitalizations in the state have doubled since late December. Carroll County’s risk has been upgraded from very high to severe by Covid Act Now.
Some residents have reportedly found it difficult to purchase at-home testing kits, and there have been long lines stretching out to the highway at the Eureka Springs Family Medical Clinic’s outdoor Covid testing site. The clinic is reportedly discontinuing providing Covid testing, which will put more pressure on Eureka Springs Hospital where CEO Angie Shaw reports that appointments will now be required for outdoor Covid testing in hopes of reducing people’s time waiting in cars.
“I know there has been some frustration from people having to wait to be tested,” Shaw said. “That is why we implemented appointments. We have seen some ugliness. I understand people are scared and frustrated, but some people have had my screener out there crying because they are downright mean. Our employees are very important, and they need to be treated with respect. With these frigid temperatures we had for a few days, it was a tough situation. I get it. They don’t feel good. They want to be tested right away. There needs to be some patience and respect.”
Testers have to work out in the cold while changing personal protection equipment including gowns, gloves and masks between patients. Despite that protection, testers are taking a risk of contracting omicron, which is considered to be one of the more contagious viruses ever seen.
Shaw said they’ve seen an increased demand for testing. On Jan. 7, they did more than 65 tests and saw a 22 percent positivity rate. Health officials would like to see a positivity rate of below ten percent.
“We are seeing quite a few people calling in today to get tested,” Shaw said Jan. 10. “It is definitely in the community. I’ve seen some breakthrough infections. I do know a few people personally who got it despite being fully vaccinated. They are experiencing only mild symptoms. I haven’t seen anyone needing hospitalization. It is completely manageable at home.”
Shaw advises against testing too soon after exposure to someone with Covid. Often symptoms arrive two days after exposure, but she has seen some people who didn’t get symptoms until the fourth or fifth day after exposure. Testing before you have any symptoms might not detect the virus.
“If you have been exposed, quarantine and wait those five days,” Shaw said. “Some people are finding out they are exposed and testing within 24 hours. They are going to get a negative at that point. They need to get a symptom to show up. I would hope that would lessen the strain on testing.”
She was hopeful that free test kits that are to be distributed free by the government starting this week will help reduce the demand for testing at the hospital. The kits are to be available at local health units and libraries.
Shaw is encouraged that the state has opened a hotline for people to report home test results.
“There are a lot of tests people are doing that are not getting reported to the state,” Shaw said. “So, we do not know an accurate positivity rate in the community. It just seems to be everywhere right now. That is what they warned us, that it would be highly contagious. We are seeing that now.”
People can call 1 (800) 803-7847 to self-report at-home positive test results.
Hospitals across the country are experiencing staffing shortages. Patients are often having to wait longer to be seen or be admitted to the hospital if there is even a bed available. Shaw said they are short staffed, just like every other hospital.
The case load is so high that ADH will stop doing contact tracing of adults Jan. 18. “However, we will continue to do case investigation for those age 18 and under,” Danyelle Harris, ADH public information officer, wrote in an email.
The hospital saw good demand for vaccines at its regular clinic Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. After a holiday break, Jan. 7 was the first Friday clinic. That day the hospital also provided vaccines at Eureka Springs schools.
“We did quite a few, probably 75, at the two clinics,” Shaw said. “So, there is still a need. People are still wanting to get the vaccines and the boosters.”
Eureka Springs School Supt. Bryan Pruitt said he was pleased to see the interest in vaccinations. He described the Friday vaccination clinic at the school as “busy, busy, busy.” It started at 1 p.m. and shots were being given until school was let out.
“We had a lot of booster shots, second shots and first shots,” Pruitt said. “It was a combination of everything. We had staff getting boosters.”
He said the state department of education wants schools to remain providing in-person instruction.
“They want us to stay in school, and the best advice is to encourage vaccination,” Pruitt said. “Some people, for health or other reasons may not get it, but that is their choice. Hopefully, one of these days it will calm down and let us get back to normal for education.”
Pruitt said students have come down with the virus, and some staff have been quarantined. He said about 70 percent of staff has been vaccinated. The mask policy has been reinstated because of high Covid numbers in the population of the area served by the Eureka Springs School District.
“According to the ACHI [Arkansas Center for Health Improvement] website, our district has been hit pretty hard,” Pruitt said. “It is fast moving so I’m hoping in a couple of weeks it is going to be out of here and we will be able to get back to a little bit more normal.”
Even with the rapid community spread being seen, Shaw is concerned that many people are not taking precautions.
“I still highly agree with masking, especially in public enclosed spaces, distancing, and good hygiene,” Shaw said. “Our positivity rate has really increased quite a bit. Our highest percentage rate was in August, it leveled out to nine percent in October and November, and in December was up to 16 percent. And now the positivity rate the first week of January has been incredible. Our community in general is definitely trending up. This is the time you should take precautions.”