At his daily coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing on Wednesday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced nearly 200 new cases of the virus have been confirmed over the previous 24 hours.
The 191 newly reported cases increase Kentucky’s COVID-19 total to 11,883 victims.
“That is within a range where we believe it is controlled,” Beshear said of the new cases. “Of course, we’d like zero, but 191 doesn’t rise to the high concern level.”
The governor also announced seven new deaths, raising the state’s death toll to 484 (4.1 percent). The deaths are from Hardin, LaRue, Jefferson, and Simpson counties, with Beshear added that Logan County reported three of the new deaths, all residents of a nursing home.
Of the virus’ fatal victims, 65 percent, or about 315 people, have been either residents or staff members of nursing homes.
Beshear said 1,438 nursing home residents and 694 staff members have been infected with the virus. Those 2,132 diagnoses account for 17.9 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Kentucky.
Officials said 2,396 (20.2 percent) victims have been hospitalized with the virus, with 508 patients currently in a hospital. To date, 966 (8.1 percent) people have been treated in ICU, while 68 victims are currently in intensive care.
At least 3,375 (28.4 percent) Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, and the state has conducted 302,347 tests, an increase of 14,750 tests since Tuesday.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
