The number of COVID-19 cases and positivity rate rose in Kentucky last week as deaths dropped dramatically.
During the week ending Sunday, 9,574 new cases were reported, up from the 7,927 cases reported to the Kentucky Department for Public Health two weeks ago.
Kentucky has now had 1,398,705 COVID cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic.
There were 30 COVID-related deaths during the week ending Sunday, down significantly from the 51 deaths reported two weeks ago. In total, 16,144 Kentuckians have perished from COVID or complications from the virus.
The COVID positivity rate rose from 12.45 percent two weeks ago to 13.36 percent last week. The rate of occurrence also increased, from 24.41 two weeks ago to 26.60 last week.
There were 377 people hospitalized last week, up from the 369 hospitalizations two weeks ago. There were 54 patients in intensive care last week, up from 48 ICU patients the previous week. The number of people on a ventilator fell from 25 two weeks ago to 18 last week.
There are now 22 Kentucky counties in the “red,” signaling a “high” spread of the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and an increase of three “red” counties from two weeks ago.
There are 37 counties in the “orange,” indicating a “medium” spread of the virus, and 61 counties in the “green,” designating a “low” spread.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
