Garland County’s Covid - 19 numbers are “leveling off , ” but there is “no evidence that it is going away , ” County Health Officer Dr . Gene Shelby wrote in his weekly update to the Hot Springs/Garland County Covid - 19 Task Force .
   There were 201 new cases reported for the week of July 24 – 31 , compared to the previous weeks’ 156 , 185 and 213 . There was a slight increase in the number of active cases , from 301 to 305 , as of Monday morning .
   Representatives from CHI St . Vincent and National Park Medical Center reported having a total of 15 Covid - 19 patients , with four in intensive care and two requiring ventilation .  
   There was one additional Covid - related death reported , bringing the county’s cumulative Covid death total to 519 .
   Shelby said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) continues to urge everyone over the age of 50 to get their second booster . The CDC is not recommending it for those under the age of 50 , except for those who have some compromise to their immune system . The CDC expects a new vaccine , which will be more specific to the omicron subvariants , to be available in late fall .  
   The Hot Springs/Garland County Covid - 19 Task Force is only meeting as needed during the summer months , but Shelby provides his weekly Covid - 19 update electronically to the group .
   For continued COVID - 19 updates . . .
   

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