Almost 2,000 new coronavirus cases, another new record

Kentucky Health News chart, based on initial, unadjusted reports

By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

The escalation of novel-coronavirus cases in Kentucky accelerated again Saturday, with another record: 1,986 new infections. That brought the seven-day rolling average to 1,688, more than double what it was at the start of October.

“This is now the single largest week . . . by almost a thousand, and we still have one day to go. We need your help,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a press release. “Make sure you are following the red zone recommendations so the entire community can come together to better protect those around you.”

The state reported about 2,400 cases on Oct. 7, but more than 1,400 of those were from a backlog of cases in Fayette County.

Other measures of the pandemic slacked a bit. Hospitalizations for covid-19 in Kentucky were 964, 10 lower than Friday; there were 236 intensive-care-unit cases, down by five; and 117 ICU patients on ventilators, down by four.

The share of Kentuckians testing positive for the coronavirus in the last seven days is 6.1 percent, down slightly from Friday's 6.19%.

The state reported nine more covid-19 deaths, raising its toll to 1,485. The fatalities were a 77-year-old man from Pike County; a 76-year-old man from Jefferson County; a 61-year-old man from Lee County; a 71-year-old woman from Montgomery County; a 76-year-old woman from Fayette County; a 90-year-old man from Henderson County; a 95-year-old man from Jessamine County; a 54-year-old woman from Daviess County; and a 69-year-old man from Lewis County.

The list of counties with more than 10 new cases was longer than ever: Jefferson, 331; Fayette, 248; Kenton, 63; Bell, 55; Warren, 48; Nelson, 47; Laurel, 46; Hardin, 45; McCracken, 40; Boone, 37; Bullitt, 36; Campbell, 32; Calloway, 31; Daviess, 30; Madison, 29; Christian, 28; Hopkins, 28; Clay, 27; Pike, 27; Boyd, 25; Whitley, 25; Barren, 24; Johnson, 24; Floyd, Jessamine and Oldham, 20 each; Grayson and Knox, 18 each; Carter and Graves, 17 each; Lewis, 16; Henderson, Marion and Scott, 15 each; Jackson and Shelby, 14 each; Monroe, Montgomery and Perry, 13; Hart, Marshall, Martin and Spencer, 12; and Caldwell, Clark, Greenup, Logan and Pulaski, 11 each.