The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to show no mercy to the elderly in Kentucky, as the fatality rate among people 70-years-old and older stands at 18.3 percent.
Out of the 12,829 confirmed coronavirus cases in the commonwealth, 2,088 of the victims are 70 and older, or 16.3 percent of all cases. But, the 383 deaths of victims 70 and older represent 74.8 percent of the fatal COVID-19 cases in the commonwealth.
Nursing homes have of course been an ongoing hot spot for the spread of the virus, and with a high percentage of long-term care facility residents over the age of 70, including many with underlying health issues, the impact COVID-19 has had in the facilities is devastating.
In Grayson County, all but two of the county’s 11 virus-related deaths are connected to nursing homes.
Around Kentucky, at least 1,500 nursing home residents and 714 staff members have tested positive for the virus, with over 320 deaths coming from long-term care facilities, including three staff members.
The following is a breakdown of the number of coronavirus cases per age group; the percentage of COVID-19 cases the age group represents; the number of deaths from the age group; the percentage of Kentucky deaths represented by the age group; and the fatality rate for each age group:
Newborn to 9 – 298 cases (2.3 percent of total cases), one death (.02 percent of total deaths)
10 to 19 – 617 cases (4.8 percent), zero deaths
20 to 29 – 2,013 cases (15.7 percent), zero deaths
30 to 39 – 2,125 cases (16.6 percent), three deaths (.06 percent) .1 percent fatality rate
40 to 49 – 2,107 cases (16.4 percent), 10 deaths (1.9 percent) .4 percent fatality rate
50 to 59 – 1,984 cases (15.5 percent), 34 deaths (6.6 percent) 1.7 percent fatality rate
60 to 69 – 1,526 cases (11.9 percent), 81 deaths (15.8 percent) 5.3 percent fatality rate
70 to 79 – 1,030 cases (8 percent), 128 deaths (25 percent), 12.4 percent fatality rate
80-plus – 1,058 cases (8.2 percent), 255 deaths (49.8 percent) 24.1 percent fatality rate
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
