All but 14 Kentucky counties at ‘high’ level of COVID transmission. See latest from CDC

With Kentucky health officials reporting nearly 13,500 new, recorded cases of COVID-19 in a week’s time and a positivity rate above 12% as of June 13, we’ve rounded up the latest from federal officials on the state of the pandemic.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Thursday night update, all but 14 Kentucky counties are now at high levels of community transmission. Last week, 90 of the 120 counties were rated high.

The metric takes into account new cases per 100,000 individuals and the percentage of positive nucleic acid amplification tests, or NAATs, both over the past seven days.

Of those counties not at high transmission, 10 are at “substantial” levels. Those are Trimble, Mason, Fleming, Lee, Estill, Bell, Casey, Marion, Cumberland and Butler counties.

Two are scored “moderate” – Edmonson and Powell counties – and two are scored at “low” levels. Those are Robertson and Todd counties.

All others in the commonwealth remain at high levels of transmission.

CDC COVID Community Levels

As part of Thursday’s update, the CDC also revised its COVID community levels – a separate metric from the community transmission levels.

Last week, 19 counties, including Fayette, were scored at high COVID-19 community levels.

In counties scored high, federal health officials recommend masking in all indoor, public places to reduce spread.

As of Friday, Kentucky still had 19 counties scored high, though they varied slightly from the week prior.

Those considered at high COVID community levels as of June 17 were McCracken, Livingston, Lyon, Hardin, Woodford, Fayette, Clark, Greenup, Boyd, Carter, Lawrence, Martin, Rowan, Morgan, Menifee, Wolfe, Breathitt, Perry and Leslie counties.

Another handful of counties were scored at a medium level.

Unlike the transmission levels, the CDC’s COVID community levels are calculated based on new confirmed cases per 100,000 people and the number of new confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions, both over the past seven days, as well as a seven-day average of occupied COVID-19 hospital beds.

What do the community levels mean? Where should I mask?

The federal health agency provides the follow guidance by COVID-19 community levels:

• Low: Stay up to date on all vaccinations, get tested if you have symptoms.
• Medium: If you are at severe risk, consider masking or other precautions; stay up to date on all vaccinations; get tested if you have symptoms.
• High: Wear a mask in indoor, public places; take additional precautions if you or someone you come in contact with are high risk; stay up to date on all vaccinations; get tested if you have symptoms.

Anyone experiencing symptoms or who has come in contact with someone positive should wear and mask and get tested.

COVID-19 in Kentucky

The CDC’s update late Thursday comes on the heels of a June 16 report ranking Kentucky 49th in the nation for its pandemic response. Among the report’s findings were indicators that Kentucky lagged on overall vaccination rate, reported more deaths than the national average, maintained high COVID-19 ICU bed occupation for long periods and more.

The state’s next weekly COVID-19 update is due out Monday, though the June 13 report included 13,497 new cases and 59 new deaths, bringing the state’s pandemic death toll to 16,063 since March 2020.

Additionally, Friday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave approval to two types of the vaccine for Americans age 6 months up to 5 years. Kentucky health officials do not expect widespread vaccine access for that age group until early July.

Do you have a question about COVID in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

This story was originally published June 17, 2022 at 4:02 PM.