CDC moves 3 Kentucky counties to high COVID-19 community level. See latest state data

The latest COVID-19 data from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated Monday, show Kentucky added more than 3,500 new cases over the reporting week, and there’s reason to believe we could see even more after Thanksgiving.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday that the U.S. is “certainly” still in a pandemic. Fauci noted COVID-19 is still killing between 300 and 400 people every day in the U.S. and the vaccine rate for the latest booster shot has been less than 15%, according to CNBC.

In China, that country’s COVID-19 restrictions have prompted rare protests, in turn spurring the Chinese government to tighten security. COVID infections in China have reached record highs after citizens have spent long spells confined in their homes – sacrificing income, mobility and mental health – to keep the virus in check.

Here’s a look at the latest COVID-19 for Kentucky.

COVID-19 community levels

According to the latest figures from the CDC, updated Nov. 28, Kentucky saw 3,540 new cases over the previous reporting period. The CDC’s case, death, vaccination, level of community transmission and community level data update weekly on Thursdays. Barring the Thanksgiving holiday, the last update was Nov. 17

The number of counties experiencing high COVID-19 community levels is also increasing, with three additional counties falling into that category. Those counties are Floyd, Johnson and Magoffin.

A map showing the CDC’s latest COVID-19 community levels for Kentucky, with Floyd, Johnson and Magoffin as the three counties experiencing high community levels. Another 15 counties are at medium and 102 at low, as of Nov. 28, 2022. CDC

The CDC’s community level metric accounts is determined using the following factors:

1. New COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population (seven-day total)

2. New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population (seven-day total)

3. Percent of inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients (seven-day average)

According to the CDC, people in communities experiencing high COVID-19 community levels should wear a mask while indoors in public spaces, and there are other health guidelines for milder community levels.

At all COVID-19 community levels, the CDC advises:

The rest of Kentucky’s counties are divided between low and medium COVID-19 community levels. That includes 15 counties at medium and 102 at low community levels of COVID-19.

While a map blanketed in green counties might give a rosy picture of the pandemic in Kentucky, the latest CDC data also shows high to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission across the state.

A map from the CDC showing high to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission occurring across Kentucky. CDC

Also Monday, the CDC reported 49 new Kentucky COVID-19 deaths occurring over the previous reporting period.

Where does Fayette County stand with COVID-19?

According to the CDC, Fayette County is at a low COVID-19 community level.

Monday, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reported 144 news cases between Nov. 19 and Nov. 23. Nov. 24 and Nov. 25 were not included due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

There were no new virus deaths in Lexington reported during that time period.

Do you have a question about COVID-19 in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

Aaron Mudd is a service journalism reporter with the Lexington Herald-Leader based in Lexington, Kentucky. He previously worked for the Bowling Green Daily News covering K-12 and higher education. Aaron has roots in Kentucky’s Fayette, Marion and Warren counties. Support my work with a digital subscription

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