Covid cases continue to decline

Active covid-19 cases continued to drop in the past week as Blytheville Mayor James Sanders reported 353 on Wednesday. In the previous week, the county was home to 645 cases.

Despite the dips in cases, Mississippi County health officer Dr. Valencia Andrews-Pirtle is continuing to vouch for mask-wearing to help completely minimize the virus.

“Do I agree with everyone taking away mask [requirements]? No I don’t,” Pirtle said. “I think it’s a mistake because there’s still a lot of people who aren’t vaccinated. We want the virus to stop tweaking itself. It would be better for activities like sports and theater if we all wore masks until things completely calm down.”

For outdoor events however, Pirtle is fine with removing the masks.

“With a lot of outdoor events, you don’t need to wear a mask,” Pirtle said. “But I’m really uncomfortable in situations like kids in the dugout playing baseball without one because they’re all right next to each other. If you’re in the outfield, that’s not so bad. But it’s a little iffy having them in the dugout.”

“What’s better, having them sit there with a mask until it’s their turn to play or not having them sit there at all?” Pirtle said. “Vaccinations and masks will keep us somewhat normal.”

Active case counts have dipped across the state as well, dropping from 57,824 last week, to 30,203 on Wednesday.

In northeast Arkansas counties, 1,224 are reported in Craighead, 270 in Crittenten, 500 in Greene and 298 in Poinsett.