New coronavirus cases in Ky. down 6.6% in the last seven days

Ky. Dept. for Public Health map, adapted by Ky. Health News; to enlarge, click on it.
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By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Kentucky has seen a slight daily decline in coronavirus cases for each of the past seven days, putting the state on a short but declining plateau.

The state reported 2,559 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, lowering the seven-day rolling average by 14, to 2,212. A week ago, the seven-day average was 2,369, so it has fallen 6.6 percent. The nation has seen a similar trend.

Kentuckians 18 and younger accounted for 26% of Tuesday’s new cases.

The share of Kentuckians testing positive for the virus in the past seven days is 8.79%, about the same as Monday. More than 100,000 tests were completed to gain that average.

Kentucky hospitals reported 1,216 Covid-19 patients, 37 fewer than Monday; 316 in intensive care units (up one); and 175 in need of mechanical ventilation (down six).

Nine of the state’s 10 hospital-readiness regions were using at least 80% of their intensive-care-unit capacity, with six over 90%. Northern Kentucky reported the highest ICU usage, at 100%.

Kentucky’s daily infection rate over the last seven days is 43.49 cases per 100,000 residents. Counties with rates more than double that rate were Menifee, 162.9; Robertson, 149.1; Wolfe, 117.8; Lewis, 96.9; and McLean, 88.4. The New York Times ranks Kentucky’s infection rate 21st among the states.

Statewide, 89% of counties are in the red zone, for more than 25 cases per 100,000, which is considered a high level of transmission.

If you want a booster shot for added protection against the virus between Christmas and New Year’s Day, experts say it’s important that you get it as soon as possible, since it takes about two weeks after receiving a booster to get the added protection.

So far, 2.7 million Kentuckians, or 62% of the total population, have received at least one dose of a vaccine; 2.4 million are fully vaccinated, or 54% of the total; and 725,415 have gotten a booster, 16% of the total.

The state reported 14 more Covid-19 deaths, bringing the pandemic death toll to 11,676.