8 of 10 regions in state at ICU capacity, COVID hospital cases near 2,400
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Another day, another set of records or near-records as the COVID surge continues to rage across the state.
As bad as high new cases numbers are, the record number of patients filling hospitals and ICUs is most concerning.
“It’s a tough Friday as the delta variant continues to burn through Kentucky. Today I am announcing 5,111 newly reported cases of COVID-19, the fourth highest day since the pandemic began. We’ve also lost another 24 Kentuckians to this deadly virus. Please, get vaccinated and mask up indoors. We have the tools to protect our people,” Gov. Andy Beshear said.
Of the new cases, 1,547 are in people 18 and under, down from 1,774 Thursday and near the 1,560 Wednesday and 1,407 Tuesday, according to the state’s daily report Friday.
A slightly lower positivity rate wasn’t actually good news because for the second day, the lower rate was related to a dramatic increase in the number of people being tested, which makes the rate lower, even with more positive results.
The rate Friday is 13.17%, down from 13.29% Thursday, 13.35% Wednesday and the record 13.66% Tuesday.
The 24 deaths pushed the state’s total to 7,845 since March 2020 and the new case pushed that total in the state to 592,489.
The health care numbers are the most startling.
The 2,365 people in the hospital with COVID is a new record, up from 2,315 Thursday, 2,267 Wednesday, 2,274 Tuesday and 2,198 Monday.
The 661 in ICU is a new record, up from 620 Thursday, 644 Wednesday, 617 Tuesday and 615 Monday.
And finally, the 425 patients on ventilators soared from 408 Thursday, 410 Wednesday and 406 Tuesday.
The COVID cases, combined with other illnesses continue to stretch medical facilities thin. In several regions, more than 50 % of ICU capacity is being used for COVID patients.
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