Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday reported 1,440 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Kentucky over the previous 24 hours.
The new cases increase the state’s COVID-19 victim count to 386,326 (about one case per 11.4 Kentucky residents).
Officials reported 42 COVID-related deaths, raising the death toll to 4,253 (1.1 percent fatality rate). The state has now had 1,198 COVID-19 deaths over the last four weeks, an average of 42.8 per day.
The rolling seven-day positivity rate dropped below seven percent for the first time since early November, as the metric checked in at 6.95 percent on Friday.
“It looks like we’re going to have fewer cases than last week which would give us five straight weeks of declining cases,” Beshear said. “The positivity rate also continues to decline. This says you’re doing the right things and we’re headed in the right direction. But even if you’ve been vaccinated, we have to continue to wear masks and social distance until we can defeat this thing once and for all.”
Hospitalizations decreased on Friday by 79 patients to 1,063, while intensive care admissions fell by one to 278. Victims on ventilators dropped by two patients to 156.
Since the onset of the pandemic, 17,929 (4.6 percent) people have been hospitalized, with 3,768 (one percent) patients treated in intensive care.
At least 45,589 (11.8 percent) Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, and 4.28 million COVID-19 tests have been administered in the state.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
