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Kentucky has added 4,732 new cases of COVID-19 over the past week, according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Before the CDC data update Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear said Kentucky “has not seen a significant increase in cases or hospitalizations.”
However, Beshear acknowledged the rise in COVID-19 activity across the country and warned of a worrying new omicron sub-variant: XBB.1.5.
Here’s what to know about the latest strain of coronavirus and where Kentucky is as the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic begins.
The new strain of coronavirus XBB.1.5 is by far the most contagious variant, and according to the CDC, it is spreading faster in the northeast than in any other part of the country.
According to the World Health Organization, there is no indication that the new variant — itself a fusion of two highly contagious omicron strains — is causing disease in humans. However, the rate at which XBB.1.5 is spreading is worrying public health leaders.
Beshear calls the new variety “the biggest thing we pay attention to” and it is quickly becoming the new dominant variety in the US.
“We don’t know much about it other than that it’s more contagious than the latest omicron variant, which means it’s one of the most contagious viruses in the history of the planet, or at least our lives,” the governor said. .
“We don’t yet know if it causes more or less serious illness,” Beshear added. “Therefore, it is important that those of you who did not receive the latest booster get it. This new booster provides omicron protection and provides good protection against all omicron variants… does that mean it will protect you from COVID? Not always, but it will certainly make any health effects from… far less severe.
Fewer than 12 percent of Kentuckians ages 5 and older currently receive the newer version of the booster, according to Beshear.
Kentucky has added 4,732 new cases in the last seven days, according to the CDC’s latest update from Thursday. This is 756 more than 3976 the previous week.
The positivity rate in Kentucky continues to fluctuate between 10% and 14.9%, with virus transmission remaining high or high in most counties, according to the CDC.
The reporting week saw 27 new deaths, bringing the coronavirus death toll in Kentucky to 17,697 since the start of the pandemic.
Compared to the previous reporting period, Kentucky has slightly fewer counties with high rates of COVID-19, but more counties with moderate rates.
According to the latest data from the CDC, there are 13 high community counties and 64 middle counties. The remaining 43 counties had low rates of COVID-19.
The top 13 counties are Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, Harrison, Lawrence, Lee, Martin, Metcalfe, Monroe, Pike, Robertson and Simpson.
The CDC community level is measured by several metrics, including the total number of new cases and disease-related hospitalizations each week, and the percentage of hospital beds occupied by these patients (averaged over 7 days).
People in high-density counties should switch to wearing masks in indoor public places and consider limiting the social activities they may be exposed to if they are susceptible to severe COVID-19 infection, according to CDC recommendations.
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