Coronavirus positive-test rate in Ky. rose from 3.12% to 4.35% last week, even as cases and Covid-19 hospital numbers dropped

The share of Kentuckians testing positive for the coronavirus went up for the third week in a row last week, but coronavirus cases and hospitalizations for Covid-19 dropped.

The state’s report for the last Monday-to-Sunday reporting period showed the percentage of Kentuckians testing positive in the past seven days is 4.35 percent, a significant increase from 3.12% the week before and up from a low of 1.97% three weeks ago. Public-health experts say a level of 5% or more is concerning.

The figures do not include results of at-home tests.

The state reported 2,997 new cases of the virus in the reporting week, an average of 428 per day, down almost 8% from 465 a day the week before.

Of this week’s new cases, nearly 21% were in people 18 and younger.

The statewide seven-day infection rate is 6.49 daily cases per 100,000 residents, up from 5.63 in the prior week’s report. Counties with rates more than double the state rate were Jefferson, 14.7; Mason, 14.2; Bath, 13.7; and Robertson, 13.6.

The New York Times ranks Kentucky’s infection rate 15th among the states and Washington, D.C., with a 7% decrease in cases over the last 14 days.

The state attributed 116 more deaths to Covid-19 last week, an average of 16.6 per day. The week before, it was 13.9 per day; the week after it was 24.6 per day. The state’s pandemic death toll is now 15,413.

Kentucky hospitals reported 166 patients with Covid-19, with only 24 in intensive care and eight on mechanical ventilation, all fewer than the previous week, though the declines are less than the week before.

Again, very few intensive-care beds in Kentucky are being used for Covid-19 patients, but five of the state’s 10 hospital regions are using at least 80% of their intensive-care beds. Statewide, 77% of the beds are in use.

Kentuckians are still encouraged to get a Covid-19 vaccination or boosted.

The Washington Post reports that a daily average of 3,885 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were given in Kentucky last week, an 18% drop from the week before. The Post reports that 61% of Kentucky’s eligible population, 5 and older, are fully vaccinated and 44% of fully vaccinated people have received a booster shot.