Pandemic numbers mostly down Saturday, but positive-test rate rises for first time in 13 days; 2-week daily death average also up

Most metrics of the pandemic continued to decline in Kentucky Saturday, the major exceptions being the two-week average of daily deaths and the one-week average of residents testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

The state reported 2,649 new cases of the virus, lowering the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases to 2,375, almost as low as it was a month ago, as the state was beginning a post-holiday surge in cases.

The Covid-19 deaths caused by that surge continue to mount. The state listed 46 more deaths, 40 confirmed and six probable. That raised the average over the past 14 days to 44.4, a new record.

The percentage of Kentuckians testing positive for the virus increased for the first time in almost two weeks, to 8.82% from 8.75% on Friday. It has declined all but three days since Jan. 10, when it hit a high of 12.45%.

Covid-19 hospitalizations in Kentucky continued a general decline, to 1,415, the smallest number in two and a half months. The number in intensive-care units was 362, seven more than Friday, but the number of ICU patients on ventilators fell by 14, to 185.

ICUs were more than 80% full in three of the state’s hospital-readiness regions, but none were over 90%. Lake Cumberland was at 89%, Barren River at 86% and the easternmost region, from Lee to Pike counties, at 81%.

Morgan County continued to be the seven-day hotspot for cases by population, reflecting an outbreak at a state prison there. The county of 14,000 has averaged 131 daily cases per 100,000 residents this week. Others above the statewide rate of 49.48 were Butler, 95.4; Metcalfe, 93.6; McCreary, 86.2; Daviess, 85.7; Hart, 82.6; Clinton, 76.9; Floyd, 75.9; Knox, 75.2; Barren, 73.9; McLean, 72.9, Pike, 72.8; Nelson, 71.7; Cumberland, 71.3; Hancock, 70.4; Harrison, 69.6; Washington, 67.3; Harlan, 67.0; Franklin, 66.7; Lewis, 63.5; Taylor, 62.6; Calloway, 62.3; Whitley, 62.2; Bourbon, 62.1; LaRue, 59.5; Martin, 58.7; Casey, 57.5; Jessamine, 57.3; Kenton, 57.0; Fleming, 56.8; Green, 56.1; Fayette, 55.1; Laurel, 55.0; Marion, 54.9; Campbell, 54.8; Pulaski, 54.3; Monroe, 53.7; Meade, 53.5; Johnson, 53.4; Powell, 53.2; Edmonson, 52.9; Graves, 52.5; Logan, 52.2; Ohio, 50.6; Allen, 50.3; Union, 49.7; and Clay, 49.5.

Counties with 10 or more new cases on the state’s daily report were: Jefferson, 357; Fayette, 177; Franklin, 144; Kenton, 125; Boone, 99; Pike, 69; Daviess, 63; Warren, 61; Campbell, 59; Barren, 52; Madison, 42; Laurel, 39; Morgan, 38; Henderson, 37; Pulaski, 36; Knox, 35, Hardin, 34; Nelson and Shelby, 33; Whitley, 31; Christian and Floyd, 30; Grant and McCreary, 28; Scott, 27; Bullitt and Mason, 26; Jessamine, 25; Oldham, 24; Boyd, 23, Hopkins and Montgomery, 23; Graves and McCracken, 22; Harlan and Hart, 21; Garrard, 20; Anderson, Butler, Marshall and Woodford, 19; Greenup, Logan and Meade, 18; Calloway, Harrison and Simpson, 16; Bell, 15; Bourbon, Carter, Clark, Lewis, Lincoln, Livingston and Taylor, 14; Edmonson, Lawrence and Spencer, 13; Adair, Breckinridge and Clay, 12; Fleming, Johnson, Muhlenberg, Ohio and Washington, 11; and Metcalfe and Perry, 10.

As usual for a weekend, the state did not list the day’s deaths by age, sex and gender. The 46 deaths raised the state’s death toll to 3,714; 1,052 of those were listed in January, making it the state’s deadliest month of the pandemic. Deaths are listed days or weeks after occurrence, following case reviews.