45 Kentucky counties are at high COVID community level. See where CDC recommends masks

The number of counties at a high COVID-19 community level has fallen significantly over the past week, according to the latest update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of Thursday, 45 Kentucky counties are at a high community level — a metric determined by new cases and hospital admissions per 100,000 people (seven-day totals) and the percentage of occupied COVID-19 hospital beds (a seven-day average).

The CDC updates the guidance weekly and recommends individuals mask up when indoors in counties where the community level is high.

Most of Kentucky’s counties at high are in the eastern part of the state, and Fayette and several adjacent counties are also at high.

Last week, 71 counties were scored high, and the number at medium has increased over the week from 37 to 44. Thirty-one counties are at low as of Sept. 16.

The CDC recommends those who reside in or visit medium counties and are at risk for severe illness also mask up in indoor public places.

Staying up to date on vaccines and testing if symptoms arise are recommended for everyone, regardless of community level.

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COVID-19 in Kentucky

The state reports cases and other coronavirus data weekly on its dashboard. As of the latest report, dated Sept. 12, 9,074 new COVID-19 cases were reported for the week prior, along with 65 new deaths.

More than 1.5 million cases have been confirmed in Kentucky since the onset of the pandemic and the death toll is at 16,822.

“(It’s) still too early to say if we are in a true decline, but it does look promising,” Gov. Andy Beshear noted Thursday during the coronavirus update portion of his weekly press conference.

The state’s positivity rate — the portion of positive tests over the total administered for the period — was 16.29%, down from 18.4% the week prior.

The CDC reports 8,371 new cases for the state in the past week ending Sept. 13, with more than 47,400 tests performed. Cases in Kentucky and across the U.S. are undercounted given the rise in at-home testing.

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COVID-19 in Fayette County

The state’s Sept. 12 report includes 511 new confirmed cases in Lexington, along with one additional death. To date, 660 Fayette County residents have died of COVID-19, according to the local health department.

The CDC puts Lexington’s case rate at 169.27 cases per 100,000 people and the positivity rate at 16.35%.

Rollout continues for the updated COVID-19 booster shot, which now has expanded eligibility for many Americans and others living in the U.S.

The updated formulas, set to target the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, are now available to all ages 12 and older who have completed their primary series and have not received a shot in the last two months, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The new boosters are available at many area pharmacies and providers, and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has two mass clinics scheduled to administer Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs.

The LFCHD’s regular public health clinic will also begin offering the updated boosters Oct. 3.

CDC data indicates 72.2% of Fayette County residents ages 5 and older are fully vaccinated. Statewide, that figure falls to 62.2%. Meanwhile, 38.6% of Lexingtonians ages 50 and older are fully vaccinated through their second booster.

Gov. Beshear noted while the outlook is improving, the state continues to see “dozens” of COVID deaths each week.

“There’s a common thread for almost all the people that we’re losing. They’re either unvaccinated or haven’t gotten all of their boosters,” he said.

Do you have a question about COVID-19 in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.