A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

COVID shows slight jump in cases, deaths across KY; Kenton and Boone among counties with most cases


By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today

After seeing sharp drops last week, there has been a slight rebound in new cases and deaths, but a huge drop in the positivity rate and hospitalizations, according to the Department for Public Health’s weekly COVID-19 report, issued Monday afternoon.

There were 9,159 new cases for the seven-day period that ended on Sunday, a rise of 85 from the previous week, and ending three straight weeks of decreases.

Fourteen counties each had more than 100 new cases, which is down from 20 counties in the Sept. 12 report, and 35 counties the week before that. The 10 counties with the most cases in the Sept. 19 report were: Jefferson with 924, Fayette 423, Perry and Warren 160 each, Kenton 153, Hardin 151, Madison 148, Boyd 135, Daviess 125, and Boone 123.

Kentucky’s pandemic total is now 1,567,595, which means that 35% of all men, women, and children in the state have had COVID-19, based on the 2020 census. The number of cases is likely undercounted, as many people who tested positive while taking a home test did not report it to state public health officials.

There were 80 new COVID-related deaths in the September 19 report. That was 15 more than the previous week, which had been the first drop following a three-week rise. Kentucky has now seen 16,902 COVID-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Some of the best news came in Kentucky’s positivity rate, which measures the number of cases from all tests performed, except those with home kits. It saw a large drop to 11.96%, from the 16.29% reported a week ago, and continues a several-month decline. The positivity rate is now at its lowest level since the end of May.

The hospital report for the past week also had some good news. There were 456 Kentuckians hospitalized with COVID, a decrease of 128 from the September 12 report. Of them, 75 were in intensive care, 13 fewer than last week, and 29 on a ventilator, compared to 36 a week ago.

For more details on Kentucky’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, community levels and more, go to the state’s website, kycovid19.ky.gov.


Related Posts

Leave a Comment