FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — During his Thursday press conference, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 3,649 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Kentucky, making it the highest daily number of cases reported in Kentucky since the pandemic began. After the removal of duplicates, the 3,649 new cases of COVID-19 brings Kentucky's COVID-19 case total to 148,390.
"Our top five highest days are all in the last week," Gov. Beshear noted. "This is exponential growth."
Thursday's positivity rate was 9.18%.
"We're now, at least in the period of time that we've had sufficient testing, at our highest positivity rate," Gov. Beshear said.
Thirty new coronavirus-related deaths were also announced, making it the second highest daily number of coronavirus-related deaths reported in Kentucky. The 30 new deaths brings Kentucky's coronavirus-related death total to 1,742.
"We've had 78 deaths in the last three days," Gov. Beshear noted.
As of Thursday, 1,550 Kentuckians are hospitalized for coronavirus-related reasons, 358 of which are in the ICU and 199 of which are on a ventilator. At least 25,437 Kentuckians have made a full recovery from COVID-19.
Out of Kentucky's 120 counties, 112 are now listed in the 'red zone,' meaning the county has 25 or more average daily cases per 100,000 people.
