About half of Kentucky in medium or high levels of COVID

Dec. 3—FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) — Information launched Friday by the Kentucky Division for Public Well being reveals a rise within the variety of counties displaying medium and excessive COVID-19 Neighborhood Ranges, whereas simply over half of the state stays at a low stage.

The COVID Neighborhood Ranges map, which is generated from knowledge compiled by the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention charges counties as having a low, medium, or excessive neighborhood stage; by whether or not their colour is inexperienced, yellow or purple.

In keeping with the map launched on Dec. 2, there have been 62 counties with a low neighborhood stage, 48 others reported a medium stage, whereas the opposite 10, primarily in western Kentucky had been at a excessive stage. See the map that accompanies this story for a county by county breakdown.

For extra particulars on Kentucky’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, neighborhood ranges and extra, go to the state’s web site, http://kycovid19.ky.gov/

Monkeypox, or “Mpox,” because it has now been designated by the World Well being Group to scale back stigma and different points related to the unique identify, has seen a sluggish rise in circumstances in Kentucky.

Two weeks in the past, there had been a complete of 80 circumstances in Kentucky, based on state public well being officers. 9 extra circumstances have been reported since then, bringing the full to 89.

Jefferson County continues to have probably the most mpox circumstances at 49. Fayette has had 13; Warren 5; Kenton 4; Boone 3; Campbell and Christian have every had two. There was one case apiece reported in Barren, Floyd, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, McCracken, Montgomery, Oldham, and Simpson counties. 88 of the 89 circumstances have occurred in males. Fifty-six of them have been in folks ages 26 to 40.

Influenza continues to see a spike in circumstances throughout Kentucky. There have been 3,470 new circumstances reported in the course of the week ending, Nov. 19, the newest interval for which knowledge is obtainable. That brings the seasonal whole to 9,531 confirmed circumstances. The flu is taken into account “widespread” in Kentucky, the best stage of the 5 classes. From lowest to excessive, the classes are not any exercise, sporadic, native, regional, and widespread.

Gov. Andy Beshear famous this yr’s flu vaccine is well-tailored for the present pressure, based on Dr. Steven Stack, the state Public Well being Commissioner. “Dr. Stack was discussing with me how efficient the vaccine is, however we’d like extra folks to get it.”