Statewide Testing Positivity Rate: 3.36%.
Deaths: We regret we must report 22 new deaths today. We have experienced a total of 410 deaths resulting in a 1.88% mortality rate (about 1 in 53) among known cases. This compares with a 1.45% mortality rate at the state level and a 1.79% mortality rate at the national level. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families and friends who have lost loved ones.
Hospitalizations: We presently have 24 cases in the hospital. This is equal to what we reported yesterday. We have had a total of 1,215 hospitalizations resulting in a 5.58% hospitalization rate (about 1 in 18) among known cases. The state hospitalization rate is 4.92%. The latest data shows that 91.11% of Lake Cumberland’s ICU beds are filled, and 32.79% of ventilator capacity is being utilized.
Total (Cumulative) Cases: The Lake Cumberland District has experienced a total of 21,776 cases since the onset of the outbreak. This means that 10.42% of our total population has been a confirmed case. However, we do not know how many additional people may have had COVID-19 and were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and never tested. Of our total cases, 0.45% are reinfections.
Released (Not contagious) Cases: We released 10 cases today from isolation. Released cases include: Adair: 3; Casey: 2; Clinton: -2; Cumberland: -1; Green: -3; McCreary: 2; Pulaski: 4; Russell: 4; and, Taylor: 1. In all, we have released 97.5% of our total cases.
Active (Current) Cases: Taking into account deaths and releases, our active cases decreased by 7 more than the new cases we added today. This leaves us with 141 active cases in our district across all 10 of our district’s 10 counties. On 12/10/2020 we were at our peak number of active cases, 1,342.
Where Did Cases Visit Prior to Isolation: The most common places cases visited prior to isolation are (in descending order): Family, Businesses, Medical Facilities, and Schools. Of our active cases, 4% can not be tied back to another known case (community-spread cases).
New Cases: We report that our total case count has increased by 25 today: Adair: 1; Casey: 5; Green: 1; Pulaski: 6; Russell: 4; and, Taylor: 8. Our current new case growth rate is: 1.001. This means our total case count is projected to double every 745.3 days. The most new cases we ever added in a single day was on 12/30/2020 when we added 301 cases. Today’s new cases include:
Adair: A 52-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Casey: A 46-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Casey: A 15-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Casey: A 77-year-old male who is released, Resolved;
Casey: A 35-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Casey: A 13-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Green: A 57-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 27-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 63-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 28-year-old male who is released, Resolved;
Pulaski: A 44-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 24-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 58-year-old female who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
Russell: A 20-year-old female who is released, Resolved;
Russell: A 52-year-old male who is released, Resolved;
Russell: A 50-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Russell: A 10-year-old male who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
Taylor: A 75-year-old female who is hospitalized, still symptomatic;
Taylor: A 19-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Taylor: A 48-year-old male who is released, Resolved;
Taylor: A 13-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Taylor: A 9-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Taylor: A 14-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Taylor: A 45-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Taylor: A 22-year-old female who is released, Resolved;
We announce one new death which occurred today, an 88-year-old male from Casey who had been hospitalized. Also, we are sad to announce 21 additional historic deaths that were identified through the Kentucky Department for Public Health during their death certificate review process. All of these had been released from public health observation as no longer contagious, but later succumbed to lasting complications from their illness. These deaths include: Adair, a 69-year-old male; Adair, a 70-year-old female; Casey, an 87-year-old male; Clinton, an 84-year-old female; Clinton, an 88-year-old female; Cumberland, a 74-year-old female; Green, a 40-year-old male; Green, a 76-year-old male; Pulaski, an 88-year-old female; Pulaski, an 83-year-old male; Pulaski, a 70-year-old male; Pulaski, a 94-year-old male; Pulaski, a 72-year-old male; Russell, a 57-year-old female; Taylor, a 70-year-old female; Taylor, an 87-year-old female; Taylor, an 82-year-old male; Taylor, an 82-year-old male; Taylor, a 97-year-old female; Taylor, a 93-year-old male; and, Taylor, an 80-year-old female.
We added more cases today than for the same time period last week, so our 7-day average incidence rate went up. District-wide, our 7-day average incidence rate is now in the “yellow-community-spread” category. Our 7-day average incidence chart is now showing 7 counties in the “yellow-community-spread” category, Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, Pulaski, and Wayne; and 3 counties in the “orange-accelerated” range of community-spread: Casey, Russell, and Taylor. We are thankful to not have any “red-critical” counties now. Keep in mind, some of our 7-day-incidence data will be skewed over the next few days as we are reconciling our data against the state data.
Don’t forget that at both the world level and in several states, we are seeing sharp increases in new COVID-19 cases. Therefore, please do not assume that the pandemic is completely behind us and take the vaccine as soon as you can. Also, until the vaccine is widely available, and a significant percentage of the population has taken it, let’s all do our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by wearing our face coverings, avoiding crowds (especially in confined spaces), social distancing when around others, increasing our hand hygiene, increasing our general sanitation, and by avoiding the touching of our faces.
The Lake Cumberland area has experienced 21,776 cumulative confirmed cases and there have been 439,700 confirmed COVID-19 cases across all 120 Kentucky Counties as of today (this includes 439,551 statewide plus 149 cases in Lake Cumberland not in the Governor’s/Department for Public Health’s daily report). Regardless of the confirmed case count for any Lake Cumberland County, we believe COVID-19 to be widespread. The LCDHD is working tirelessly, including nights and weekends, to identify and contact all those with whom any positive case may have come into close contact, and to follow up with positive cases when ready to be released. Additionally, we are striving diligently to follow up on business-related complaints regarding noncompliance with the COVID-19 guidance. We are also working with any community partner that requests assistance for prevention or post-exposure planning/response. Finally, we are working with all community partners regarding vaccination planning.
