Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday reported 5,197 new COVID cases were diagnosed in Kentucky over the previous 24 hours, giving the state 14,917 new cases over the last three days. Friday’s cases represent the fifth most ever reported in a single day.
Officials announced 32 deaths, giving Kentucky 98 COVID-related deaths over the last three days, and raising the commonwealth’s death toll to 8,003 (1.3 percent fatality rate).
Friday’s new cases increase to 620,356 the total number of COVID cases in Kentucky.
Of Friday’s cases, 1,443 (37.8 percent) are children 18-years-old and younger.
The positivity rate, an all-time high 14.16 percent on Wednesday, dropped to 14.04 percent on Thursday before falling slightly to 14 percent on Friday.
As of Friday, 2,541 people are in a hospital (the most since the beginning of the pandemic), up 62 from Thursday and up over 180 patients the last four days. Officials said 698 people are in intensive care (the most ever), up 33 from Thursday, and 448 people are on ventilators, up 14 since Thursday.
On Thursday, Grayson County reported 102 new COVID-19 cases and on Friday health officials reported another 38 new cases. The county had 365 new cases diagnosed between September 1 and Wednesday.
The county’s incident rate now stands at 156.8, which continues to be the highest rate of occurrence in western Kentucky, and is now the eighth highest incident rate in the state, as only Perry (208.5), Clay (205.3), Whitley (194.6), Rockcastle (178.8), Leslie (177.9), Harlan (164.8), and Bell (161.3) counties have higher transmission rates.
Grayson County’s COVID-19 death toll is 63, with several deaths awaiting confirmation by state health officials.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
