Local news- Press Release
☷ Hot Springs Arkansas - HS GC COVID Task Force Garland County s COVID metrics remain stable
Hot Springs , state Arkansas ( By Press Release office)
Apr 18,2022
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The COVID - 19 metrics continue to be very stable for Hot Springs and Garland County , according to County Health Officer Dr . Gene Shelby .
The Hot Springs/Garland County COVID - 19 Task Force is meeting monthly and did not convene this week , but Shelby provided his weekly COVID - 19 statistic update electronically to the group .
For the week of April 10 - 17 , there were only 16 reported new cases , compared to the previous week’s 11 . There were 301 reported tests , compared to the previous week’s 366 . Active cases in the county increased by one , from 29 the previous week to 30 , as of Monday morning . There were two COVID - related deaths recorded , bringing the cumulative total to 509 .
Shelby explained that the reported cases represent only a fraction of the actual cases , with estimates that the reported cases may represent as few as 7% of the actual total cases some areas .
“I think that is low , but I think that 30 - 50% could be reasonable . In addition to unreported home tests , the BA . 2 omicron sub - variant frequently causes no or very mild symptoms , so people don’t get tested , ” said Shelby . “This is especially true in people who have been vaccinated and boosted , and probably also in people who have some immunity from a prior infection . So , I think that watching for trends is more important than actual numbers of cases . ”
Shelby also shared the continued uncertainty regarding the second booster , which is available for those over the age of the 50 and the immunocompromised , in terms of who should take it and the optimal time for it .
“To me , for people with no underlining medical problems , it doesn’t make since to take it now with so little virus in the community . But , when we do start seeing more infections , I would definitely encourage eligible people to get it , ” said Shelby .
For continued COVID - 19 updates . . .
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