Eureka Springs Hospital Administrator Angie Shaw, RN, said with all the seasonal illnesses going around, it’s a good idea to take a Covid test when you’re feeling sick to rule out Covid. Testing is no longer free but is covered by most government and private insurance plans. Appointments can be made by calling ESH (479) 253-7400.
The federal government stopped sending out free antigen rapid Covid test kits at the beginning of September as funding has run out. People on Medicare can receive eight free Covid test kits per month at a pharmacy (currently available at Walmart Berryville) or by going online to medicaltestingdirect.com/ to have eight free test kits mailed to you once a month. Medicare provides insurance for people 65 and older who are at the highest risk for complications from Covid.
One local woman said she was pleased that each individual can do this; it’s not based on household numbers. “When I passed this info along to about a dozen friends, they were all surprised to hear it,” she said. “I think quite a few people are testing a lot right now, at least until they get the new shot.”
The CDC states that adults 65 years old and older who were fully vaccinated with a mRNA Covid-19 vaccine had a 94 percent reduction in risk of Covid-19 hospitalizations and vaccination was 64 percent effective among those who were partially vaccinated.
There were an estimated 11,272 active cases of Covid in Arkansas Sept. 12 compared to 12,342 cases a week previously. The state is nearing 12,000 deaths from Covid since the pandemic began, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Deaths of 115 people have been reported for Carroll County by ADH, which has an estimated there are 82 active cases of Covid in the county. Health authorities have said the true numbers of people with Covid may be five times higher than estimated because of the prevalence of home testing and having no way to report home tests to the government.
Hospitalizations in Arkansas have been slowly dropping and are down about eight percent in the two weeks ending Sept. 12 to 258. Hospitalizations are at the lowest level since early July.