Highest Sunday yet for virus cases in Ky., and positive-test rate sets another record, but holiday factors could skew numbers

By Al Cross Published January 4, 2021 CORONAVIRUS, HEALTH POLICY, YOUR HEALTH

New York Times map, adapted by Ky. Health News; click here for interactive version with data
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By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

Kentucky’s pandemic numbers continued to worsen Sunday, as the seven-day average of new cases reached his highest level in two weeks and the percentage of Kentuckians testing positive for the novel coronavirus reached the highest level since testing became widely available in May.

“The state’s elevated positivity rate is likely due to some labs and public testing sites being closed over the holiday, which increases the percentage of tests conducted in medical settings where patients are experiencing symptoms and suspect they have the virus,” a post on Gov. Andy Beshear’s Facebook page said, adding he “will provide a full explanation of the positivity rate” Monday.

The rate is 11.12 percent, continuing a steep rise in the past week. A week or so ago, it was around 8%.

The seven-day average of new cases also continued a steep rise, to 2,833, the highest in more than two weeks. The state reported 2,860 more Kentuckians infected with the virus, the highest ever reported on a Sunday, though day-to-day reporting has probably been skewed by the holidays.

Ky. Health News graph; virus case numbers are from unadjusted daily reports; click graph to enlarge

Hospitalizations also increased, with Kentucky hospitals reporting 1,677 Covid-19 patients, 421 of them in intensive care and 196 of those on ventilators. The latter two numbers were down from Saturday.

The state reported 25 more Covid-19 deaths, for a total of 2,723, and did not provide details. Over the last seven days, Kentucky has averaged 24 deaths per day; in the last 14 days, the daily average is 23.3.

Counties with 10 or more new cases were: Jefferson, 397; Fayette, 221; Kenton, 136; Boone, 125; Warren, 116; Daviess, 98; Pulaski, 90; Boyd, 77; Campbell, 63; Boyle, 59; Oldham and Whitley, 56; Bullitt, 50; Scott, 44; Henderson, 42; Harlan, 38; Ohio, 38; Calloway, Graves and Harrison, 37; Christian and Laurel, 36; Franklin, 35; Jessamine, Madison and Wayne, 30; Barren and Mercer, 29; McCracken, 25; Floyd, 23; Johnson, 21; Anderson, Clark and Shelby, 20; Hopkins, Letcher and Taylor, 19; Montgomery, 18; Green, 17; Nelson and Rockcastle, 16; Garrard, Hardin and Trigg, 15; Grayson and Webster, 14; Breckinridge, Caldwell, Knox, Lawrence, Perry and Russell, 13; Clinton and Crittenden, 12; and Allen, Bell, Cumberland, Hancock, Muhlenberg and Nicholas, 11.

Kentucky’s infection rate through Saturday remained near the national median, ranking 21st among the states, according to The New York Times‘ continuing compilation, which also tracks county-by-county data.

In other coronavirus news Sunday:

The nation’s surgeon general said he has “no reason to doubt” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s Covid-19 death toll, contradicting President Donald Trump’s claim that the agency has “exaggerated” its numbers. “From a public health perspective, I have no reason to doubt those numbers,” Dr. Jerome Adams said on CNN‘s “State of the Union.” Earlier Sunday, Trump claimed on Twitter that the number of cases and deaths are “far exaggerated” because the CDC has a “ridiculous method of determination” compared to other countries, which “report, purposely, very inaccurately and low.” He said the method is “‘When in doubt, call it Covid.” He provided no basis for his claim.