Kentucky’s Covid-19 circumstances and hospitalizations hold rising, considerably steeply, however the positive-test charge is barely decrease

Kentucky Well being Information graph, from state information; click on on it to enlarge.

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Well being Information

Whereas coronavirus circumstances and Covid-19 hospitalizations in Kentucky went up final week, at a lot the identical acceleration because the week earlier than, the share of Kentuckians testing optimistic for the virus went down only a bit.

The state's weekly report exhibits the share of Kentuckians testing optimistic within the final Monday-to-Sunday reporting interval, whereas nonetheless excessive, dropped .35 share factors to 12.07%, from 12.42% the prior week. The figures don't embrace outcomes of dwelling exams. 

New circumstances have been on the rise for a number of weeks. This week's report confirmed 13,497 new circumstances of the virus, a mean of 1,928 per day. That is 38% greater than the week earlier than, when the speed was 1,394 circumstances per day. Of this week's new circumstances, 14% of them are in individuals 18 and youthful. 

The New York Instances ranks Kentucky's an infection charge fifteenth among the many states and Washington, D.C., with a 42% improve in circumstances within the final two weeks. 

Regardless of the large improve in circumstances, the statewide incidence charge rose solely a bit of, to 24.42 circumstances per 100,000 residents, from 23.97 the week earlier than. The highest 10 counties for this measure are: Carter, 48.5; Rowan, 45; Leslie, 40.5; McCracken, 39.5; Clark, 38.6; Boyd, 37; Lawrence, 36.4; Bourbon, 36.1; Wolfe, 35.9; and Monroe, 34.9.

The Lexington-Fayette County Well being Division reported Monday that Lexington has had 100,649 whole circumstances of the virus and 625 Covid-19 deaths. The present seven-day rolling common in Lexington is 147 circumstances a day, in comparison with 90 per day a month in the past, says the well being division.

The perfect safety towards the virus is to get absolutely vaccinated and boosted, together with sporting a masks in indoor locations, avoiding shut contact with people who find themselves sick, protecting coughs and sneezes, avoiding touching your eyes, nostril and mouth and recurrently washing your fingers with cleaning soap and water for at the least 20 seconds, the well being division reminded in a information launch. 

The state reported 59 extra Covid-19 deaths final week, a mean of 8.4 per day, the identical because the earlier week. The state's pandemic dying toll is now 16,063.

Kentucky's Covid-19 hospitalization numbers stay low, however have elevated a bit.  Kentucky hospitals reported 352 sufferers with Covid-19 Monday, up from 299 every week in the past, with 50 in intensive care (up 16) and 25 on mechanical air flow (up eight). 

Statewide, 75% of intensive-care beds are in use, with 4 of the state's hospital areas utilizing at the least 80%. Northern Kentucky continues to have the very best charge of intensive care mattress use, at 98.68%, however solely 4.8% of these sufferers have Covid-19. 

The newest Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention nationwide Covid-19 danger map, which measures circumstances and hospital capability, exhibits 19 Kentucky counties with a excessive degree of coronavirus transmission and 28 with a medium degree of danger. The map is up to date on Thursday evenings.