The Grayson County Health Department (GCHD) has released a coronavirus update.
On Friday, GCHD Director Josh Embry reported 10 new cases of the virus have been confirmed since Wednesday. The new cases increase the county’s COVID-19 victim count to 2,210 (about one case per 12.2 Grayson Co. residents).
The county has recently experienced a surge in cases after averaging fewer than two new cases per day between April 20 and April 30, when Grayson County’s incident rate dropped well below 10 new cases per day per 100,000 residents over a one week period.
Since Friday, April 30, the county has averaged just under seven new cases per day, raising the incident rate to 23.2 new cases per day per 100,000 residents over the last seven days. The county now is considered in the “orange,” indicating an “accelerated spread” of the virus within the community, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
The 23.2 new cases per day per 100,000 residents over the last seven days is the third highest rate of occurrence in western Kentucky, behind Hickman (35.9) and Simpson (24.6) counties.
“Grayson County is edging closer to the ‘red’ as the COVID-19 spread increases,” Embry said. “We are seeing the variants in the county, and believe they are more contagious. Right now, under 30 percent of the total county’s population have been vaccinated. Appointments for vaccines have slowed substantially which is concerning. People are fatigued and not wearing a mask. Therefore, a lack of caution, along with the variants and vaccination refusal, are what’s leading out county closer to the ‘red.’”
Embry said there are 59 active cases, the most in Grayson Co. in several weeks. The 59 active cases are 38 more than last Friday and 18 more than Monday. Three people are hospitalized.
One new death was reported, raising the county’s death toll to 53 verified coronavirus deaths, with 61 reported deaths, according to Embry.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,090 (94.6 percent) Grayson Co. residents have recovered from the virus.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
