As of Sunday, the rate of coronavirus tests returning positive in Christian County was 10.34%, according to a news release Tuesday from the Christian County Health Department.
The local rate of positive tests is nearly double the state’s percentage, which on Tuesday was 5.87% — a number the governor expressed concerns about.
“That is a number that is just too high to do a number of things we want to do,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “It means it’s just not safe at this moment to do a number of things that we’re working toward. But I’m committed, I’m committed to getting our kids back in school in a safe manner.”
Tuesday’s release didn’t identify what factors local health officials believe are responsible for the county’s high positivity rate. However, they have recently pointed to increased activity within the community, holiday gatherings and summer vacations that are often to hotspot COVID-19 locations within the United States.
Twenty-eight new cases and the county’s ninth death were confirmed on Tuesday. The number of local coronavirus cases classified as active by the health department is the largest number of active cases since the pandemic began at 207.
The department continues to provide free testing at Tie Breaker Park from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday.
- RELATED: As activity trends in Christian County increased, COVID-19 cases grew, Google data show
- RELATED: Health department recommends waiting several days after returning from vacation to test for COVID-19
Asymptomatic coronavirus cases
As the virus continues to spread in Christian County, health officials caution residents to remember that people who are asymptomatic can still spread COVID-19.
According to data from the health department, more than one-fourth of all people who have tested positive locally were asymptomatic.
“Just because citizens may ‘feel’ healthy and exhibit no signs or symptoms, the data indicates that individuals could very well be carrying the virus and easily transmit the virus to other vulnerable citizens.”
– Christian County Health Department spokeswoman Amanda Sweeney
“We have started tracking cases that are symptomatic and asymptomatic, meaning the individual has a positive COVID-19 test but shows no signs or symptoms for COVID-19. According to our data thus far, 26% of our positive cases have been asymptomatic, and 74% of cases have been symptomatic,” health department spokeswoman Amanda Sweeney said.
“Just because citizens may ‘feel’ healthy and exhibit no signs or symptoms, the data indicates that individuals could very well be carrying the virus and easily transmit the virus to other vulnerable citizens,” she said.
The health department stressed the importance of wearing a mask in public, frequently washing your hands, social distancing as much as possible and taking advantage of the department’s free testing site at Tie Breaker Park.
(Julia Hunter is the webmaster for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at Julia_Hunter622@hotmail.com.)
Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.org.
