Coronavirus and covid-19 numbers set new records; Beshear urges 80 counties in red zone to follow extra preventive steps
Ky. Health News graph; case numbers are based on unadjusted daily reports; click image to enlarge
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By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News
Kentucky reported its second largest number of new coronavirus cases Friday, and almost every other measurement of the pandemic also went the wrong way.
The 2,302 new cases were second only to the 2,318 reported the day before. The state recorded 2,398 cases on Oct. 7, but that included a Fayette County backlog of more than 1,400.
The seven-day rolling average of new cases, a better measure of the infection trend, was 1,784. That was 51 more than Thursday, and a new record.
The share of Kentuckians testing positive for the virus jumped again, to 6.77 percent, the highest rate since June 1, when testing wasn’t as available as now.
Kentucky hospitals had 1,153 covid-19 patients and 299 of them in intensive case, both new records. Among the intensive-care patients, 158 were on ventilators, probably another record. Officials have voiced concern about hospitals and intensive-care units filling up and not having enough staff because of exposure to the virus.
Map relabeled by Ky. Health News; for a larger version, click on it. |
“We can only get back to normal if we address it head-on and that is why I am urging all of you, especially those in red counties, to follow recommendations for reducing the spread in your community.”