On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear reported 3,173 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Kentucky over the previous 24 hours, by over 400 cases the most new cases reported in a single day.
The new cases increase the state’s COVID-19 victim count to 132,844.
The counties reporting the most cases on Friday were Jefferson (630), Fayette (221), Hardin (133), Kenton (124), Boone (116), McCracken (78), Campbell (71), Bullitt (68), Calloway (66), and Warren (63).
“Like almost every state in America, we are seeing a surge here in Kentucky that is concerning and deadly,” Beshear said. “But like every state in America, the power to stop it is in our hands. This is the toughest spot we’ve been in so far. Please follow those red zone county recommendations and school recommendations. You must do your part. If you are not wearing a mask, you are putting yourself at personal risk. We cannot let this escalation continue. Everybody’s got to pull their weight. Come on, Team Kentucky. Too many of us are hurting and too many of us are dying.”
Officials reported a record-high 25 deaths on Friday, raising Kentucky’s coronavirus death toll to 1,647 (1.2 percent fatality rate). There have now been 237 COVID-19-related deaths in Kentucky over the last 18 days (13.2 per day).
Those reported lost to the virus on Friday include seven Barren County residents; four women, ages 76, 79, 88 and 92, and three men, ages 73, 81 and 88; two women, ages 71 and 92, from Bullitt County; a 93-year-old woman from Christian County; a 65-year-old woman and an 84-year-old man from Hardin County; a 62-year-old man from Harlan County; an 87-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man from Hart County; two men, ages 76 and 94, from Logan County; a 65-year-old man from Marion County; a 79-year-old woman from Mason County; a 69-year-old man from Ohio County; an 83-year-old woman and two men, ages 62 and 83, from Pike County; and a 79-year-old woman and an 81-year-old man from Warren County.
The rolling seven-day positivity rate continues to climb, as the metric checked in at 8.68 percent, up from Thursday’s 8.29 percent.
Hospitalizations rose by 47 patients to 1,358 on Friday, as the number of patients hospitalized has risen by 320 patients in the last four days (80 per day). Intensive care patients increased by eight to 307, while victims on ventilators fell by 16 to 147.
Since the onset of the pandemic, 8,652 (6.5 percent) patients have been treated in a hospital, with 2,200 (1.7 percent) people admitted to ICUs.
At least 23,872 (18 percent) Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, and 2,349,785 COVID-19 tests have been administered in the state.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
