State’s 45 deaths include 27 year old, new cases near a record

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – The state’s growing number of COVID-related deaths includes 45 more, including a 27 year old, the state’s daily update showed Thursday.

The state also recorded it’s second highest number of cases in a single day and a new record for the number of people hospitalized. Even 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.

“Today I am announcing 5,457 newly reported cases of COVID-19, the second highest report since the pandemic began. I am also sad to report 45 deaths, including one Kentuckian as young as 27-years-old. It’s time we get serious. Please, get vaccinated, encourage others and mask up indoors,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a video statement.

According to the daily report, the new cases increased the state’s total to 587,414. Of the new cases, 1,774 are in people 18 or younger. That is up from 1,560 Wednesday and 1,407 Tuesday.

The positivity rate Thursday is 13.29%, down from 13.35% Wednesday and 13.66% Tuesday.

The 45 deaths pushed the state’s total to 7,821 since March 2020.

The 2,315 people in the hospital is a new record and up from 2,267 Wednesday, 2,274 Tuesday and 2,198 Monday. The 620 people in ICU was a slight improvement from 644 Wednesday, but still in range of the 617 Tuesday and 615 Monday.

And finally, the 408 people on ventilators remains in the range of the 410 on a ventilator Wednesday and 406 Tuesday.

Any stabilization in that number would bring some relief to many hospitals in the state, a number of which or at or near oxygen shortages or who have asked the state to order more ventilators as capacities near their limits.