The Arkansas Department of Health’s (ADH) weekly respiratory disease report released Wednesday shows the intensity level has dropped one notch into the high category. The scale has three levels of very high, three levels of high, two levels of moderate, two levels of low and three levels of minimal. This week’s level is the highest of the high level. Last week the level was at the lowest level of the very high category.
For the week ending this past Saturday, Jan. 4, the ADH reported 40 new flu-related hospitalizations in Arkansas and 60 new COVID-19 hospitalizations.
No new deaths were attributed to the flu last week and seven flu deaths have been reported since Sept. 29.
There were 56 deaths reported the past week by the ADH due to pneumonia in the state.
Thirty-three new COVID-19 deaths were reported this past week. The total number of deaths since Jan. 1 of 2024 in Arkansas due to COVID is 517.
Seven influenza outbreaks have been reported at nursing homes or other congregate setting institutions so far this flu season, up three from last week.
The report also provides the percentage of students absent in each county for the week, but that report is not available due to the Christmas break for schools.
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