Following eight weeks of declining active COVID - 19 cases in Garland County , the number rose a second straight week .
   The Hot Springs/Garland County COVID - 19 Task Force is meeting monthly and did not convene this week , but Health Officer Dr . Gene Shelby provided his weekly COVID - 19 statistic update electronically to the group .
   For the week of March 20 – 27 , there continued to be old reports added by the Arkansas Department of Health ( ADH ) . Shelby said ADH hopes to have all of the old cases entered by the end of this week .  
   There were 149 new cases added last week , or an average of 21 . 3 cases per day , up slightly from the previous week’s 19 . 1 daily average . The number of active cases increased by eight from 25 last week to 33 , as of the morning of Monday , March 28 . There were 2 , 021 test results , up from the previous week’s 1 , 258 . The positivity rate improved from 10 . 3% last week to 7 . 4% . There were three COVID - related deaths recorded , bringing the cumulative total to 503 .
   Shelby said he expects the main COVID news this week to be an FDA report concerning possible additional booster shots . “It is reported that they will probably recommend the second booster for all people over 50 , ” said Shelby .  
   For continued COVID - 19 updates . . .
   

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