Positive-test rate for coronavirus in Kentucky declines again, to a level not seen since testing became widely available

Ky. Dept. for Public Health map, relabeled by Ky. Health News; for a larger version, click on it.

By Al Cross

Kentucky Health News

The percentage of Kentuckians testing positive for the coronavirus in the last seven days is almost at low as it has been since testing became widely available last June. The seven-day average was 2.79% on Sunday, the 11th straight day of decline.

The seven-day average of new cases rose by 13, to 516, with Sunday's report of 287 new cases. However, the rate of new cases per 100,000 residents declined again, for the 12th consecutive day. It was 8.61 per 100,000, the lowest it has been since the state started reporting the rate in December.

Counties with rate more than double the statewide rate on the state's daily report are Webster, 40.8; Rockcastle, 27.4; Adair, 25.3; Owen, 24.9; Estill, 23.3; Lewis, 21.5; Casey, 20.3; Henderson, 19.9; Union, 18.9; Powell, 18.5; Taylor, 18.3; and Montgomery, 17.8.

Those counties showed the scattered nature of local outbreaks of the virus. None of the three counties with rates considered critical (above 25 per 100,000) border each other, and two of them (Adair and Webster) border counties that have reported no cases in the last seven days (Crittenden and Cumberland).

Three other counties (Carlisle, Trigg and Knott) have reported no cases in the last week. Thirty-five counties have accelerated transmission and appear in orange on the state's county map of new-case rates.

Kentucky hospitals reported 381 Covid-19 patients, 22 fewer than Saturday and the lowest number in five weeks; 112 were in intensive care and 53 of those were on a ventilator. Only one hospital region, Lake Cumberland, reported over 80% of intensive-care beds occupied, at 91%, but most were not being used by Covid-19 patients.

The state reported eight more Covid-19 deaths, all from regular health-department reports, raising the state's death toll to 6,656.