New coronavirus cases in Kentucky keep going up and down; fell 10% last week, with 29% of new cases in people 18 and younger

New York Times map shows Kentucky and Central Appalachia remain hot spots. (Click it to enlarge)

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Last week, most metrics to measure the impact of the coronavirus in Kentucky dropped after showing increases the week before, again suggesting the state remains on a rough plateau. 

The state's report for the Monday-through-Sunday reporting week showed 12,830 new cases, down 10% from the 14,312 the previous week. The daily average decreased to 1,832 from 2,044. 

Of the week's new cases, 29% are in people 18 and younger. That's down from 37% in last week's report. 

The incidence rate of new cases last week was 39.72 cases per 100,000 population, also down from the prior week when it was 46.98. Kentucky's rate ranks third among the states, according to The New York Times.

The counties with the 10 highest rates were Rowan, 160.6; Rockcastle, 131.8; Owsley, 123.0; Wayne, 113.8; Perry, 111.5; Harlan, 102.2; Powell, 98.3; Clay, 96.9; Wolfe, 95.8; and Knox, 89.4. The Times says Harlan, Rockcastle, Perry and Powell counties' rates are among the highest in the U.S.

The state report showed the share of Kentuckians testing positive for the coronavirus in the past seven days fell to 18.4%, down from 20.1% the week prior. The numbers do not reflect results from at-home tests. 

The report showed 629 patients with Covid-19 in Kentucky hospitals, down eight from the prior week. Those in intensive care numbered 102, down two. The number on mechanical ventilation rose by eight, to 36. 

The state attributed 78 more deaths to Covid-19, up a bit from 76 the week before. The state's pandemic death toll is 16,757.