The number of COVID-19 cases in Kentucky topped 500 for the sixth time in the last nine days as it appears a state mandate to wear facial coverings to reduce the spread has not had the early impact officials were hoping for.
The state reported 518 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and three new deaths, including an 81-year-old Webster County resident.
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack says positive cases reported by the state indicate the number of people infected and do not include multiple testing of people.
click to download audioKentucky’s seven-day average of cases is 565, which is the highest to date and is the fourth straight day over 500. The state’s positivity rate was 4.9-percent which is the highest in at least a month. Dr. Stack says duplicate testing of people is included in the positivity rate.
click to download audioDr. Stack also explained misinformation being spread on social media about how COVID-19-related deaths are reported and calculated.
click to download audioThe state makes available demographic breakdowns of the COVID-19 data on its web page maintained by the department of public health. Dr. Stack says the reporting system is still imperfect and changes frequently.
click to download audioThere are 603 people reported hospitalized in the state with COVID-19, which is an increase of 35-percent in the past week. The state’s ICU census has increased 58-percent. Dr. Stack says Kentucky’s hospital bed capacity is still good, but has learned there are some Kentucky hospitals taking patients from surrounding states.
click to download audioThe state also reported 51 COVID-19 cases in Kentucky daycare centers, which is 17 more than the last report issued on Friday.
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