DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY/dewayne@mcnews.online
Results from a recent pop-up testing session provided by Healthy Connections offers encouraging news for Montgomery County residents.
Healthy Connections provided free testing for Montgomery County residents last Tuesday, June 16. Jeffrey Slatton shared that Healthy Connections performed 70 tests during the event, nearly one-third as many tests as had been performed since testing began in March. He added that test results usually take five to seven days.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) website reported as of Tuesday morning that there has been an increase of 74 negative tests administered in Montgomery County with no new positive tests. This suggests that most if not all of the tests administered by Healthy Connections resulted in negative test results.
The state average for positive tests is currently 6.3 percent which means Montgomery County is well below the state average at just over one half a percent. There are currently no active cases being reported.
Testing within the county is also well below the state average of 8.5 percent. Only 3.3 percent of Montgomery County residents have been tested for the virus.
Although Montgomery County is showing promising numbers, areas across the state continue to see an increase in positive cases. Some areas are showing increases at an alarming rate.
The state of Arkansas reported Tuesday, June 23, that 256,339 tests have been administered. There are 16,083 cumulative positive cases and 240,256 cumulative negative results. The ADH is reporting 5,063 active cases statewide with 227 deaths reported. This is an increase of 680 active cases since last Tuesday.
Areas that have been most effected in Arkansas include Washington County with 991 active cases, Benton County with 763 active cases, Lee County with 511 active cases, Pulaski County with 345, Sevier County with 193, and Sebastian County with 129.
Yell County, which borders Montgomery County to the north, is currently reporting 159 positive cases of COVID-19. They report 273 recoveries and 1,376 negative test results. They also report three virus related deaths. They currently have a 28.3 percent positivity rate among tests administered.
Hot Spring County has seen an increase in positive tests with reports 138 cumulative cases, 102 active cases and no deaths. They have reported 1,694 negative test results.
Polk County is reporting 13 active cases and 54 recoveries. There are currently 67 cumulative cases reported. There have been 1194 negative test results reported.
Garland County reports 180 cumulative cases, 24 active cases and one death. They have reported 5,542 negative test results. A majority of the new cases are being attributed to the prison located in Malvern.
Clark County reports 53 cumulative cases, 10 active cases and no deaths. They have reported 1,682 negative test results.
Healthy Connections provided free testing in Glenwood last Thursday where they performed 93 tests. Pike County’s numbers remain basically unchanged with seven cumulative cases, one active cases and no deaths being reported. They have reported 1,427 negative test results.
Howard County reports 68 cumulative cases, 29 active cases and no deaths. They have reported 977 negative test results.
Visit healthy.arkansas.gov for up to the minute information regarding COVID-19 in Arkansas.
Recent testing event provides encouraging results
