LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Governor Andy Beshear announced new COVID-19 numbers for Christmas Eve, Christmas and the day after Christmas.
764 new COVID-19 cases were in Kentucky on Saturday. The state total now stands at 255,563 cases. The state’s positivity rate is now 8.04%. Health officials say this day is shorter because of the Christmas holiday. The main counties with the most positive cases on Saturday are Jefferson and Fayette.
The governor also reported four new deaths on Saturday. This brings the total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Kentucky to 2,534.
“The number of deaths we are announcing today is truly painful – another wake-up call. But the good news is that our rate of positivity continues to fall. It was even less than 8% on Christmas Day, ”said Governor Beshear. “It means that our sacrifices are making a difference. Thank you for taking the holidays differently this year to protect each other. We will continue to work hard so that we no longer have days like today when we will have to announce that we have lost many of our neighbors, family and friends. “
Those lost to the virus on Saturday include a 71-year-old woman from Hart County; a 99-year-old man from Jefferson County; a 94-year-old woman from Monroe County; and a 76-year-old man from Simpson County.
At least 1,511 Kentuckians are hospitalized, with 396 in the ICU and 237 on ventilators.
As of Friday, 1,803 cases of COVID-19 were recorded. The positivity rate was slightly lower than the previous days, at 7.95%.
The governor’s office says 11 people died of the virus on Friday. Among the lost are an 84-year-old man from Anderson County; a 71-year-old woman from Barren County; a 60-year-old man from Cumberland County; a 71-year-old woman from Franklin County; a 71-year-old woman from Hopkins County; an 87-year-old woman from Logan County; an 81-year-old woman from Madison County; two men, aged 62 and 91, from McCracken County; a 58-year-old man from Monroe County; and an 85-year-old woman from Pulaski County.
On Thursday, 2,742 new cases of the coronavirus were registered. Thursday’s case numbers include the second highest number of reported deaths in the state, with 53 Kentucky residents lost to the virus.
Those lost to the virus on Thursday included a 67-year-old boy from Boyle County; a 72-year-old woman from Breckinridge County; two men, aged 55 to 74, from Bullitt County; a 77-year-old man from Campbell County; two women, 90 and 91 years old, and an 89 year old man from Christian County; a 71-year-old woman from Cumberland County; two men, aged 63 to 65, from Daviess County; an 82-year-old woman from Floyd County; an 83-year-old man from Franklin County; an 84-year-old woman from Graves County; a 94-year-old woman and an 87-year-old man from Grayson County; a 100-year-old woman from Hardin County; four women, aged 67, 74, 92 and 94, and two men, aged 74 and 77, from Hopkins County; an 85-year-old woman and three men, aged 70, 80 and 90, from Jefferson County; two men, aged 74 and 89, from Jessamine County; three women, aged 64, 68 and 73, from Madison County; a 69-year-old woman from Mason County; two men, aged 73 and 77, from Monroe County; two women, aged 77 to 90, from Muhlenberg County; a 77-year-old woman from Ohio County; a 91-year-old man from Owen County; three women, aged 52, 87 and 90, and two men, aged 90 and 91, from Pulaski County; a 66-year-old woman from Rockcastle County; three women, aged 86, 87 and 90, from Russell County; two women, 82 and 84, from Taylor County; an 86-year-old man from Trigg County; a 73-year-old man from Warren County; and a 65-year-old woman from Wolfe County.
“Many Kentucky residents found new ways to celebrate Christmas yesterday, including limiting their personal interactions with others,” said Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Public Health. “Your sacrifices are appreciated and a gift of kindness to your loved ones and your neighbors, while preventing this terrible disease from spreading more quickly. Make sure you are familiar with the symptoms of this virus and, if you feel unwell, stay home until you get better or see a doctor. “
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