Deaths: We are sad to report 2 new deaths today (Saturday). We have experienced a total of 61 deaths resulting in a 3.2% 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 20 cases in the hospital. We have had a total of 179 hospitalizations resulting in a 9.3% hospitalization rate among known cases. The latest state data shows that 67% of ICU beds and 26% of ventilator capacity are being utilized.

Released (Not contagious) Cases: We released 20 cases today from isolation. Released cases include: Adair: 5; Clinton: 3; Cumberland: 3; Pulaski: 3; and, Taylor: 6. In all, we have released 77.2% of our total cases.

Total (Cumulative) Cases: The Lake Cumberland District has experienced a total of 1,928 cases since the onset of the outbreak.

Active (Current) Cases: Taking all things into account, this leaves us with 378 active cases in our district across all 10 of our district’s 10 counties. Of those active cases, 82 are asymptomatic.

New Cases: We report that our total case count has increased by 22 today: Casey: 2; Cumberland: 1; Green: 5; McCreary: 1; Pulaski: 7; Russell: 3; Taylor: 2; and, Wayne: 1. Our current new case growth rate is: 1.022. This means our total case count is projected to double every 32.47 days.

The new cases include:

• Casey: A 57-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Casey: A 10-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Cumberland: A 58-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Green: A 28-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Green: A 3-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Green: A 48-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Green: A 22-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Green: A 36-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• McCreary: A 21-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 22-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 74-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 31-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 18-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Pulaski: A 31-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 22-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Pulaski: A 25-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Russell: A 5-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Russell: A 63-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Russell: A 73-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Taylor: A 20-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
• Taylor: A 38-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
• Wayne: A 50-year-old male who is hospitalized, still symptomatic

The 2 deaths we report today are a 75-year-old male from Casey and 66-year-old female from Russell. Neither were nursing home residents. Our mortality rate at 3.16% remains high compared to the state (1.94%) and national (3.07%) averages.

In terms of new cases, this was the state’s second highest week, but it was our highest week. Last week we added 216 new cases, this week 267. As far as active cases, we, again, had our worst week. Last week we had 266 active cases, this week, 378. We also experienced the most deaths this week at 8. Last week at this time we had 24 hospitalized cases, this week 20. However, death accounts for the difference, and that is not how we like to see our hospitalization numbers go down.

Since the onset of the outbreak, we have had 4 people in their 50’s to die. We have had 30 individuals in their 50’s to be hospitalized; 9 in their 40’s; 11 in their 30’s; 5 in their 20’s; 1 in their teens, and 2 under 10 (the remaining 120 have been 60 or older). I point these numbers out to dispel the myth that only “old people” get sick.

We currently have 50 active cases that are either tied to the schools or are school age children. It is of great concern how much returning to in-person instruction could impact the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

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 1,928 Cumulative Confirmed Cases and there have been 47,635 Confirmed COVID-19 cases across all 120 Kentucky Counties as of today (this includes 47,577 statewide plus 58 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.