State report shows fewer new cases of coronavirus, but The New York Times ranks Kentucky’s new-case rate first among the states

New York Times map, adapted by Kentucky Health News; for a larger version, click on it.
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By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

After a six-week surge, the daily average of new coronavirus cases in Kentucky fell 7.7 percent last week, according to the latest weekly report from the state Department for Public Health, released Monday.

However, The New York Times reported that in the last seven days, Kentucky’s rate of new cases has been higher than any other state, 2,634 per day, and has risen 29% over the last two weeks.

The state’s report said Kentucky recorded 14,654 new cases in the Monday-Sunday reporting period, an average of 2,093 per day, by the state’s count. The previous week, the state’s average was 2,269.

Health-department officials have said the state’s numbers run lower than the Times count because they reflect the removal of duplicate test results.

Of the new cases on the state report, 18% were among Kentuckians 18 and younger. With the start of school approaching, health officials are urging parents to get their children vaccinated against Covid-19.

Ky. Health News graph, from state data; click on it to enlarge.

The state report showed Covid-19 hospital numbers increased slightly, but deaths were down.

The number of Kentucky hospital patients with Covid-19 ticked up Sunday, to 602, four more than a week earlier. There were 89 Covid-19 patients in intensive care, up five; the number on mechanical ventilation remained at 33.

The state attributed 45 more deaths to Covid-19 during the week, down from 59 the week before. The pandemic death toll in Kentucky stands at 16,397.

The incidence rate of new cases in the state declined slightly, to 40.52 per 100,000 residents. The state report said the counties with the highest rates were Perry, 104 per 100,000; Robertson, 102; Letcher, 98; Bath, 83; Leslie, 77; Elliott, 74; Knott, 72; Cumberland, 71; Owsley, 71; and Greenup, 70.

According to the Times, the top counties were Perry, 145 per 100,000; Clinton, 140; Adair, 127; Knott 124; Floyd, 113; Letcher, 109; Powell, 104; Union, 102; Boyd, 102; Green, 98; and Harrison, 98.