ADH updates their weekly COVID/19 flu report

Jonesboro, Arkansas – Each week, the Arkansas Department of Health monitors viral respiratory illnesses, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and COVID-19.

The ADH recorded “very high” activity of flu-like sickness on Wednesday, February 7.

There were 85 new COVID-19-related hospital admissions and 71 new flu-related hospitalizations for the week ending on February 3.

According to the ADH, 11 flu-related deaths occurred in the previous week. This flu season, 40 flu-related deaths have been reported. Pneumonia-related deaths have totaled 83 in the last week.

For the week ending February 7, there were no COVID-19-related deaths recorded by the ADH.

This flu season, 14 influenza outbreaks from assisted living facilities and other communal settings have been documented.

A list of counties and the percentage of kids absent from school the week before due to the flu is also included in the weekly report:

County School        Absenteeism Rate
Baxter                                   8.41
Clay                                       8.71
Cleburne                              8.88
Craighead                            9.1
Crittenden                           9.18
Cross                                     7
Greene                                 9.97
Independence                    6.68
Jackson                               7.78
Lawrence                            7.02
Mississippi                         10.77
Poinsett                               9.4
Randolph                            9.79
St. Francis                           6.61
Sharp                                   7.49
Stone                                   9.26
White                                   7.31
Woodruff                            8.77

Every local health unit in the state offers flu vaccines, according to the ADH flu website. The health facilities don’t charge out-of-pocket, but patients are urged to bring their insurance cards.