The latest COVID-19 briefing from the UAMS College of Public Health (COPH) says cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the state are once again on the rise — and could steadily move up even more over the next few weeks.
Thirty-day models from the UAMS COPH COVID-19 Report show increases in all three measures, particularly near the end of December.
The models predict 11,482 new COVID-19 cases by Dec. 13 and 23,848 new cases by Dec. 28.
New daily cases are expected to average over 750 per day with around 276 individuals to be newly hospitalized by Dec. 13 and 430 by Dec. 28.
The models are forecasting 27 new COVID-19 deaths by Dec. 13 and 54 by Dec. 28, or around two deaths per day.
The UAMS findings say a potential third wave for the state — if it occurs — is most likely to peak early in the first months of the new year, such as February or early March. The brief highlighted that there “…are sufficient numbers of unvaccinated citizens in Arkansas to drive a third surge in the state.”
The report said while it’s too early to forecast how the new Omicron COVID-19 variant might impact cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the state, the Delta variant remains the dominant variant in Arkansas.
Data used to prepare the briefing were downloaded from the Arkansas Department of Health on Nov. 28. Click here to read the report from the UAMS COPH.
If you have yet to be immunized against COVID-19, White River Now urges you to talk to your trusted local physician or pharmacist about the COVID-19 vaccine.
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