Deaths: We are pleased to report no new deaths today. We have experienced a total of 47 deaths resulting in a 3.3% mortality rate among known cases.

Hospitalizations: We presently have 17 cases in the hospital. We have had a total of 141 hospitalizations resulting in a 9.8% hospitalization rate among known cases. The latest state data shows that 60% of ICU beds and 29% of ventilator capacity are being utilized.

Released (Recovered) Cases: We released 30 cases today from isolation (recovered). Released cases include: Adair: 5; Casey: 1; Clinton: 2; Green: 4; Pulaski: 14; Russell: 1; and, Taylor: 3. In all, we have released 82.6% of our total cases.

Total (Cumulative) Cases: The Lake Cumberland District has experienced a total of 1,445 cases since the onset of the outbreak.

Active (Current) Cases: Taking all things into account, this leaves us with 204 active cases in our district across all 10 of our district’s 10 counties. Of those active cases, 56 are asymptomatic.

New Cases: We report that our total case count has increased by 12 today: Adair: 1; Clinton: 2; Cumberland: 1; Green: 1; McCreary: 1; Pulaski: 4; Russell: 1; and, Taylor: 1. Our current new case growth rate is: 1.016. This means our total case count is projected to double every 44.46 days.
 

The new cases include:

• Adair: A 27-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Clinton: A 63-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Clinton: A 63-year-old female who is self-isolated, missing info
• Cumberland: A 40-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Green: A 39-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• McCreary: A 67-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Pulaski: A 46-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 82-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 19-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Pulaski: A 23-year-old female who is self-isolated, missing info
• Russell: A 26-year-old female who is self-isolated, missing info
• Taylor: A 21-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic

It has been a challenging week for us and many of our community leaders as we have grappled with the decision to return to school in-person or not.

Undoubtedly, this is a complex and difficult decision with many valid variables to consider. From a purely public health perspective, we feel anything that encourages gatherings should be strongly discouraged until there is a vaccine. However, we know society will not tolerate that level of restriction.

Schools represent a series of difficult challenges. How do you enforce social distancing during transportation, mealtime, class exchanges etcetera? Will children be truly vigilant in wearing their face-coverings? Each school in our district has produced very well thought out re-opening plans that align with the state’s “Healthy at School” guidelines as they existed prior to the Governor shifting the guidelines to a recommendation not to return just yet to in-person instruction.

Will COVID-19 spread within the schools at an accelerated rate if they return to in-person instruction? Very likely it will. In fact, it is happening as we speak at many schools across our nation that have aleady reopened. Also, despite extreme, extreme measures being taken at long-term care facilities, once inside the building, in many instances, COVID-19 has spread rapidly. The “Healthy at School” guidelines are not nearly as restrictive as are the long-term care facility guidelines. We have also witnessed COVID-19 in many instances spread in environments were groups gather in confined spaces like churches, businesses, and medical facilities.

The question our society faces right now in terms of schools reopening to face-to-face instruction is, “Is the remedy (virtual classes to avoid the spread of COVID-19) worse than the problem (the significant chance of causing a community spike in COVID-19 cases [and the mortality and hospitalizations that would undoubtedly follow] if schools return to face-to-face instruction)?” Each community will have to answer that question for itself. Again, from a purely public health perspective, any activity that encourages social gathering should be strongly discouraged until there is a vaccine.

Our hospitalizations remained at 17 today. On a positive note, our total new cases for the week dropped to a 5-week low and our active cases dropped by 72 (meaning we released 72 more cases as recovered than we added new cases). Let’s not conclude that one week’s worth of data is a trend, but we are happy for the immediate downturn.

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 1,445 Cumulative Confirmed Cases and there have been 38,976 Confirmed COVID-19 cases across all 120 Kentucky Counties as of 08/15/20 (this includes 38,930 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 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.