The Arkansas Department of Health’s (ADH) weekly respiratory disease report released Wednesday shows the intensity level has dropped one notch again this week to the middle of the high level. 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 in the middle of the high level. Last week the level was at the highest level of the high category.
For the week ending this past Saturday, Jan. 11, the ADH reported 82 new flu-related hospitalizations in Arkansas and 100 new COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Four new deaths were attributed to the flu last week and 11 flu deaths have been reported since Sept. 29.
There were 86 deaths reported the past week by the ADH due to pneumonia in the state.
Seven new COVID-19 deaths were reported this past week, the first COVID deaths of the year. The total number of deaths since Jan. 1 of 2024 in Arkansas due to COVID is 524.
Nine influenza outbreaks have been reported at nursing homes or other congregate setting institutions so far this flu season, up two from last week.
The report also provides the percentage of students absent in each county for the week. Here are the counties in north central Arkansas and their absenteeism rate:
Baxter – 7.01 (last report in December was 8.36)
Marion – 8.16 (last report in December was 7.34)
Fulton – 8.46 (last report in December was 6.60)
Izard – 5.45 (last report in December was 6.65)
Stone – 7.24 (last report in December was 4.64)
Searcy – 9.49 (last report in December was 9.46)
Boone – 6.84 (last report in December was 8.39)
Newton – 6.75 (last report in December was 4.90)
To view the full report follow this link: respiratorydiseasereportjanuary15
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