February 24, 2021 February 24, 2021 – The week of Feb. 14-22 had the lowest total of COVID-19 test results recorded for Garland County since August due to the winter weather, but Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby is still pleased by the continued downward trajectory of the county’s COVID statistics. Shelby shared with the Hot Springs/Garland County COVID-19 Task Force at the Feb. 22 virtual meeting that there were 1,203 COVID tests completed last week, from which there were 168 new cases reported, or an average of 24 new cases per day. Although the new case counts are the lowest since the first part of October, the rate of positivity rose from the previous week’s 11.1% to 14%, which Shelby attributed to a majority of last week’s testing taking place in the hospitals for those who are experiencing symptoms. The number of active cases in the county dropped to 291 at the time of the meeting from 515 at the same time the previous week.