Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Monday that 543 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Kentucky over the previous 24 hours.
The new cases represent an unusually high number of cases for a Monday, as reporting practices are generally spotty, resulting in significantly fewer cases being announced. The large number of cases comes on the heels of Kentucky — two weeks in a row — setting a record for the number of new cases reported in one week.
“I believe that is the highest Monday, certainly in the last four weeks and by an appreciable amount,” the governor said. “If the current trends continue, it will be a difficult fall and a difficult winter, but I believe that we have the opportunity to improve our situation. We cannot have repeats of last week. Last week was our single highest week in terms of positive cases. The week before had been the highest week, and we shattered that record.”
The new cases increase the state’s COVID-19 victim count to 73,158. Of the new cases, 69 are children 18 and younger.
Officials reported five new deaths Monday, raising the total to 1,214 (1.7 percent fatality rate) Kentuckians lost to the virus.
The deaths reported Monday include a 69-year-old man from Boyd County; an 85-year-old man and two women, ages 91 and 99, from Daviess County; and a 71-year-old man from Robertson County.
“More cases equal more death,” Beshear said. “If we are more casual, as opposed to more urgent, we will lose more of our family and friends. It’s hard because you can’t see it, but it happens. If we aren’t strong, other people typically pay for it. Let’s be strong.”
The positivity rate dropped slightly from Saturday’s 4.74 percent to 4.69 percent on Monday.
Since the onset of the pandemic, 5,557 (7.6 percent) patients have been hospitalized, with 563 people currently receiving care in a hospital; a number that continues to be elevated when compared to the last several weeks. To date, 1,540 (2.1 percent) victims have been treated in an ICU, with 145 patients currently in intensive care; again, an elevation of ICU patients when compared to the previous several weeks.
At least 12,445 (17 percent) Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, with 1,539,707 COVID-19 tests performed in the state.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
