Kentucky continues to be a hot spot for Covid-19 even as case numbers dropped by 7.9%

N.Y. Times map shows Kentucky continues to be a national hot spot.

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

New coronavirus cases in Kentucky have gone up and down over the last few weeks in what could be the beginning of a plateau. This week, they dropped 7.9% after increasing by 6.8% the previous week. 

The state's Monday-to-Sunday reporting period shows Kentucky had 14,409 new cases last week, an average of 2,058 cases per day. That's a 7.9% decrease from the prior week when it was 2,236. 

Of the new cases, 19.5% were in people 18 and younger, up from 16% in last week's report. This increase in new cases among young people comes as Kentucky's children head back to school amid new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that no longer calls for routine testing or "test-to-stay" programs. Health officials continue to encourage school-aged children to get a Covid-19 vaccine. 

The percentage of Kentuckians testing positive for the coronavirus increased slightly to 18.51%, up from 18.41% the week before. This number does not include at-home tests. 

The statewide incidence rate of new cases declined again, to 35.32 cases per 100,000 residents. Last week that rate was 39.05. The top 10 counties were: McCreary, 154.2; Harlan, 95.6; Perry, 95.4; Leslie, 94.0; Wolfe, 87.8; Menifee, 81.5; Letcher, 78.2; Breathitt, 73.5; Knott, 73.3; and Knox, 71.1.

The New York Times ranks Kentucky's infection rate first among the states, even with an 11% drop in cases in the last 14 days. The Times says McCreary County has the highest rate in the nation, at 149 cases per 100,000. State officials have attributed the disparities to differing methodologies, including the state's removal of duplicate test results.

Kentucky hospitals reported fewer Covid-19 hospitalizations, but the same number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care and on mechanical ventilation. The hospitals reported 615 Covid-19 patients Monday, down from 623 a week earlier. They reported 74 intensive-care patients and 27 on mechanical ventilation. 

The state attributed 76 more deaths to Covid-19 last week, up from 67 the week before. The pandemic death toll is now 16,540.