2,583 new COVID cases, state positivity rate tops 10%

August 4, 2021

Steve Rogers,

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – The state’s surge in new COVID cases, fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant, continued unabated Wednesday, as the positivity rate and new case numbers hit levels not seen in months.

“Today I am announcing 2,583 newly reported cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky, the highest report since Feb. 3. Kentucky’s positivity rate has also increased to above 10%. The delta variant is serious and real and we have to be willing to do what it takes to protect our people,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement as the positivity rate rose from 9.88% Tuesday to 10.08%.

Of the new cases, 512 are in people 18 and under.

The new case numbers were up from 1,803 on Tuesday.

In Wednesday’s daily report, the total number of cases in the state since March 6, 2020 reached 490,399.

The number of counties in the ‘red’ category for high incidence rates continues to climb with more than half the state’s 120 counties now in that category.

The state reported 10 new coronavirus-related deaths, one of the highest single-day totals in several weeks, bringing Kentucky’s total death toll since the pandemic began in March 2020 to 7,362.

The number of people in the hospital, on ventilators and in the ICU also continues up.

The state reported 889 people in the hospital, up from 824 people Tuesday and up from just 625 Friday; 275 in ICU, up from 263 Tuesday; and 100 on a ventilator, up from 96 Tuesday.