The Arkansas Department of Health’s (ADH) weekly respiratory disease report released Friday shows the intensity level has climbed and school absenteeism rates in the area have soared. 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 level of the very high level. Last week it was the highest of the high level.
Nine new deaths were attributed to the flu last week in the state and 30 flu deaths have been reported since Sept. 29.
There were 69 deaths reported the past week by the ADH due to pneumonia in the state.
Twenty-two new COVID-19 deaths were reported this past week. There have been 37 COVID deaths since the first of the year.
For the week ending this past Saturday, Jan. 25, the ADH reported 309 new flu-related hospitalizations in Arkansas and 37 new COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Twenty eight influenza outbreaks have been reported at nursing homes or other congregate setting institutions so far this flu season, up 12 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 – 10.73 (last week was 8.97)
Marion – 13.64 (last week was 12.44)
Fulton – 9.73 (last week was 9.33)
Izard – 14.40 (last week was 9.86)
Stone – 9.41 (last week was 6.07)
Searcy – 13.15 (last week was 9.91)
Boone – 10.72 (last week was 8.59)
Newton – 9.82 (last week was 8.78)
To view the entire report from the ADH, click here.
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