Number of Kentucky counties at high COVID-19 community level shifts from 2 to 4

Aaron Mudd

Kentucky added 3,163 COVID-19 cases last week as the number of counties at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s high community level grew from two to four.

Overall, Gov. Andy Beshear described the state of the pandemic Thursday as “stable,” while continuing to recommend people receive the latest coronavirus booster.

The decline of COVID-19 cases in Kentucky also seems to be coinciding with waning seasonal flu in the state, Beshear noted at his news conference last week.

“Flu continues to be on the decline in Kentucky … The flu vaccine this year was particularly effective in that the right one was chosen for the right strain,” Beshear said. “You can still get your flu shot, and we still recommend it.”

Here’s a look at where Kentucky stands with COVID-19, including a look at where the CDC says you should mask up.

Where does Kentucky stand with the COVID-19 pandemic?

Compared to the 4,173 cases Kentucky added between Feb. 9 and 16, the state added about 1,000 fewer cases over the course of the last week, according to the latest available CDC data.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Kentucky’s coronavirus case and death rates. While the level of coronavirus cases in Kentucky has fallen over the last six months, virus deaths have not come down as fast, given that the virus death rate is a lagging indicator. CDC
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Kentucky’s coronavirus case and death rates. While the level of coronavirus cases in Kentucky has fallen over the last six months, virus deaths have not come down as fast, given that the virus death rate is a lagging indicator. CDC

By comparison, weekly deaths haven’t fallen quite as fast as cases, but the count is generally a lagging metric. Last week, Kentucky added 55 additional virus deaths.

The state’s overall death toll since the start of the pandemic has cleared 18,000 individuals.

Looking at another metric of the pandemic’s impact on Kentucky, four counties are experiencing high community levels of COVID-19.

These levels are based on weekly totals of new infections and hospital admissions, as well as weekly averages of staffed, COVID-occupied hospital beds.

The counties experiencing high COVID-19 community levels are Elliott, Menifee, Morgan and Rowan counties.

The latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map for Kentucky’s COVID-19 community levels as of Feb. 24, 2023. CDC
The latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map for Kentucky’s COVID-19 community levels as of Feb. 24, 2023. CDC

According to CDC recommendations, individuals in these counties should mask up while indoors in public.

Meanwhile, another 34 counties are at medium COVID-19 community level and the remaining 82 are at low. That includes Fayette County, which has moved from a medium to low level in the latest update from the CDC.

The most recent data from the Kentucky Department for Public Health show a positivity rate of 10.14%, which represents a slight increase from the week before.

Do you have a question about the coronavirus 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.

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