Covid-19 cases and deaths dropped in Ky. last week, but New York Times says state's infection rate remains one of the highest-HEALTHYLIVE

New York Times graph, adapted by Kentucky Health News; for a larger version, click on it.

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

After increasing for two weeks, new coronavirus cases in Kentucky dropped 35% in this week's state report, and Covid-19-related deaths also decreased, but the state's infection rate ranks high nationally.

The state Department for Public Health's latest weekly report showed 4,913 new cases of the coronavirus, or 701 cases per day. That's down from 1,080 a day the week before. Nearly 18% of the cases were in people 18 or younger. 

The share of Kentuckians testing positive for the coronavirus in the past seven days was 10.27%, down slightly from 10.37% the week prior. These numbers do not reflect at-home testing. 

The weekly new-case rate was 12.54 cases per 100,000 residents, down a bit from 13.06 the week before. The top 10 counties were Wolfe, 39.9 cases per 100,000; Elliott, 30.4; Barren, 30.3; Wayne, 29.5; Boyd, 27.2; Perry, 26.6; Butler, 26.6; Breathitt, 23.8; Green, 23.5; and Simpson, 22.3.

The New York Times ranks Kentucky's infection rate second among the states, reporting a 167% increase in cases in the last two weeks, contrary to the state report, which uses different methodology. Tennessee ranks first. 

Kentucky hospitals reported 318 patients with Covid-19, down 88 from the week prior; 55 of them were in intensive care, down eight; and 27 were on mechanical ventilation, down four. 

The state attributed 45 more deaths to Covid-19 last week, down from 59 the week before. The state's pandemic death toll is now 17,838.

from KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS https://ift.tt/kZILYJO

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