Deaths: We are sad to report 1 new death today from Casey. We have experienced a total of 46 deaths resulting in a 3.3% mortality rate among known cases. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families and friends who have lost loved ones.

Hospitalizations: We presently have 13 cases in the hospital. We have had a total of 135 hospitalizations resulting in a 9.7% hospitalization rate among known cases. The latest state data shows that 62% of ICU beds and 23% of ventilator capacity are being utilized.

Released (Recovered) Cases: We released 23 cases today from isolation (recovered). Released cases include: Casey: 1; Cumberland: 4; McCreary: 1; Pulaski: 10; Russell: 3; Taylor: 3; and, Wayne: 1. In all, we have released 79.1% of our total cases.

Total (Cumulative) Cases: The Lake Cumberland District has experienced a total of 1,393 cases since the onset of the outbreak.

Active (Current) Cases: Taking all things into account, this leaves us with 245 active cases in our district across all 10 of our district’s 10 counties. Of those active cases, 61 are asymptomatic.

New Cases: We report that our total case count has increased by 36 today: Adair: 1; Casey: 2; Clinton: 2; Green: 13; McCreary: 3; Pulaski: 6; Russell: 1; Taylor: 6; and, Wayne: 2. Our current new case growth rate is: 1.018. This means our total case count is projected to double every 39.41 days.

The new cases include:

• Adair: A 52-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Casey: A 61-year-old male who is self-isolated, missing info
• Casey: A 85-year-old female who is deceased, expired
• Clinton: A 67-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Clinton: A 42-year-old female who is hospitalized, still symptomatic
• Green: A 80-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 35-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Green: A 71-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 18-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 73-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 86-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 92-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 75-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 65-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 40-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Green: A 95-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 64-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Green: A 76-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• McCreary: A 22-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• McCreary: A 26-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• McCreary: A 42-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 18-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 18-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 57-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 48-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 59-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 20-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Russell: A 62-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Taylor: A 59-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Taylor: A 64-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Taylor: A 60-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Taylor: A 81-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Taylor: A 91-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Taylor: A 63-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Wayne: A 74-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Wayne: A 35-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic

Today has been challenging. The death reported was an 85-year-old female from Casey. Also, we have now experienced another nursing home outbreak, this time in Green County where 16 residents and/or staff are currently positive.

We are now hearing that some of the public schools will likely return by way of in-person instruction. I have consulted personally with several area Superintendents today. Our advice must agree with that of the Governor and the Kentucky Department of Public Health. That is, it would be best to wait. I have fielded some complaints today that we (the health department) had recently reviewed the schools’ reopening plans and found them to be consistent with the guidance. It is true, all the schools put a lot of thought into their plans and those plans did align with the guidance that was in place at the moment the plans were reviewed. Today’s guidance from the Governor and the Kentucky Department of Public Health, though, has evolved.

We look anxiously forward to the day a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed and we can transition from a containment to a vaccination plan. Until then, please help us slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing your face covering, avoiding crowds (especially in confined spaces), social distancing when around others, increasing your hand hygiene, increasing your general sanitation, and by avoiding the touching of your face.

The Lake Cumberland area has experienced 1,393 Cumulative Confirmed Cases and there have been 37,060 Confirmed COVID-19 cases across all 120 Kentucky Counties as of 08/12/20 (this includes 36,945 statewide plus 115 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 tirelessly, including nights and weekends, to identify and contact all those with whom any positive case may have come into close contact, and to follow-up daily with positive cases.
 

Additionally, we are striving diligently to follow-up on business-related complaints regarding noncompliance with the Governor’s Executive Orders.