Area COVID Cases Increase Over Several Day Period

The number of active COVID-19 cases grew over the weekend in most area counties.

According to the latest statistics from the Arkansas Department of Health, Howard county is now reporting nine active cases of the coronavirus. Sevier county maintains one of the highest current total at 184. Polk county’s active count has risen to 26. In Little River county, the number of cases presently active has increased to 17, Hempstead county has 13 active cases and Pike county has the fewest in the area with two active.

Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, an infectious disease specialist, says that people known to be infected, as well as their contacts, are monitored while in isolation through an electronic system that checks on their symptoms on a daily basis.

A large number of the area cases are industry related. The Department of Health reports says the number of COVID-19 cases among workers in the poultry industry grew by 168, up to 808, from Tuesday to Friday of last week. Infections among workers grew by 24, up to 111, at the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in De Queen. Seven employees of Husqvarna in Nashville have tested positive according to the Health Department.