Positive-test rate at 4% but state lists 52 more Covid-19 deaths, making first day of pandemic's second year its seventh deadliest

Kentucky Health News graph; for a larger version, click on it.

By Al Cross

Kentucky Health News

The seven-day average of Kentuckians testing positive for the novel coronavirus dropped to 4 percent Saturday, but the state added 52 people to its list of Covid-19 victims, making the anniversary of the announcement of the state's first case the seventh deadliest day of the pandemic.

Gov. Andy Beshear made the announcement on Facebook, as usual for a weekend, after hosting a memorial service for pandemic victims. Also as usual for a weekend, the state did not identify the latest victims by age, sex and county.

Saturday's 52 deaths, newly listed after official review of cases, included seven probable and 45 confirmed. They raised the 14-day death average to 27.1 deaths per day, up from 25.2 on Friday. The average has generally declined since hitting a high of 45.3 a month ago.

The infection rate hit a high of 12.45% on Jan. 10 and has generally fallen since. The last time it was 4% or lower was on Sept. 21, when it was 3.77%.

Kentucky's hospital numbers kept improving, with 591 Covid-19 patients (15 fewer than Friday), 171 of them in intensive care (down 8) and 72 of those on ventilators (down 4). Only one of the 10 hospital readiness regions reported more than 80% of its intensive-care beds in use: Lake Cumberland, at 91%.

Kentucky's seven-day infection rate ranked 16th among the states, according to The New York Times. The state reported its rate was 16 per 100,000; counties with rates more than double that rate were Lyon (site of outbreaks in state prisons), 310; Clinton, 39.1; Rowan, 38; Clay, 37.3; McCreary, 36.5; Knox, 35.8; Owsley, 35.6; Simpson, 33.8; and Green, 32.6.

Counties with 10 or more new cases on the state's daily report were: Jefferson, 171; Fayette, 64; Kenton, 35; Scott, 34; Boone, 32; Laurel, 25; Rowan, 22; Perry, 21; Campbell, 20; Russell, 20; Hardin, 17; Bullitt, 15; McCracken, 15; Madison, 14; Logan, 12; Clinton, 11; Daviess, 10; and Warren, 10.