Deaths: We are pleased to report no new deaths today. We have experienced a total of 27 deaths resulting in a 6.2% mortality rate among known cases.

Hospitalizations: We presently have 10 cases in the hospital. We have had a total of 75 hospitalizations resulting in a 17.3% hospitalization rate among known cases. The latest state data shows that 73% of ICU beds and 26% of ventilator capacity are being utilized.

Released (Recovered) Cases: We released 2 cases today from isolation (recovered). Released cases include: Pulaski: 2. In all, we have released 67.9% of our total cases.

Total (Cumulative) Cases: The Lake Cumberland District has experienced a total of 433 cases since the onset of the outbreak. This has resulted in the health department reaching out to over 2657 individuals during our contact tracing.

Active (Current) Cases: Taking all things into account, this leaves us with 112 active cases in our district across 9 of our 10 counties. Of those active cases, 23 are asymptomatic.

New Cases: We report that our total case count has increased by 17 today: Adair: 3; Casey: 6; Pulaski: 3; and, Russell: 5. Our current new case growth rate is: 1.03. This means our total case count is projected to double every 23.44 days. 

New cases include:

• Adair: A 21-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Adair: A 76-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Adair: A 72-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Casey: A 40-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Casey: A 61-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Casey: A 79-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic Casey: A 93-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Casey: A 89-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Casey: A 87-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 52-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 70-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Pulaski: A 19-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Russell: A 27-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Russell: A 12-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Russell: A 60-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Russell: A 62-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Russell: A 59-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic

This was a week of aggressive growth in our area for COVID-19. We had more new cases and currently have more active cases than at any point since the onset of the outbreak. For the week, our active cases jumped by 38 (from 74 to 112). This happened despite us releasing 37 cases as recovered since we added 75 new cases this week. 

While our present cumulative total cases are still only a fraction of our total population, the current growth rate of 1.03 is concerning. At a 1.03 growth rate, our total cumulative case count is projected to double about every 23 days. Fortunately, we had no new deaths this week and our hospitalization rate remains in a manageable region. However, with additional outbreaks occurring in Nursing Homes (Casey County is the latest Nursing Home Cluster), additional hospitalizations could soon occur.

We remind everyone that our best chance for slowing the spread is for everyone to wear a mask when out in public, to avoid crowds, to social distance (stay 6-feet from others), to wash their hands with soap and water often and thoroughly, to stay home if they have a fever or are coughing, to increase sanitation, and to avoid touching their faces.

The Lake Cumberland area has experienced 433 Cumulative Confirmed Cases and there have been 16,405 Confirmed COVID-19 cases across All 120 Kentucky Counties as of 07/04/20 (this includes 16,376 statewide plus 46 recently reported cases in Lake Cumberland not in the Governor’s/Department for Public Health’s daily report). 

Regardless of the confirmed case count for any Lake Cumberland County, we believe COVID-19 to be widespread. The LCDHD is working to identify and contact all those with whom any positive case may have come into close contact.