The Arkansas Department of Health’s (ADH) weekly respiratory disease report released Thursday shows the intensity level has dropped and fewer deaths due to the flu were reported this past week.
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 level of the high level. Last week the level was in the lowest level of the very high category.
Fourteen new deaths were attributed to the flu last week in Arkansas and 87 flu deaths have been reported since Sept. 29.
There were 46 deaths reported the past week by the ADH due to pneumonia in the state.
Twelve new COVID-19 deaths were reported this past week. There have been 76 COVID deaths since the first of the year.
For the week ending this past Saturday, Feb. 15, the ADH reported 191 new flu-related hospitalizations in Arkansas and 52 new COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Forty 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 – 9.67 (last week was 8.50)
Marion – No report (last week was 9.69)
Fulton – 5.22 (last week was 9.10)
Izard – No report (last week was 9.75)
Stone – No report (last week was 9.41)
Searcy – No report (last week was 9.31)
Boone – 3.34 (last week was 10.76)
Newton – 7.95 (last week was 9.79)
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