The Christian County Health Department has reported 12 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the local total since the pandemic began to 1,007.
Fourteen percent of all cases have been reported within the last two weeks, and the seven-day average grew to 14 on Thursday. It’s 37.5% percent higher than two weeks ago.
The number of cases classified as active by the health department is 235, while 758 are classified as recovered. Fourteen local deaths have been attributed to the virus.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Jennie Stuart Medical Center had 12 confirmed coronavirus patients and one patient whose test was pending, said health department spokeswoman Amanda Sweeney.
Long-term care facilities
Of the 235 cases classified as active, 31 were at long-term care facilities and eight were associated with local schools, according to Kentucky Department of Public Health data tracking COVID-19 cases.
The data comes from the state because the Christian County Health Department does not provide information to the public that identifies locations with coronavirus clusters. At this point, the only location-related information reported regularly by the state is related to long-term care and other congregate facilities, K-12 schools, colleges and universities.
Three new positive coronavirus tests were reported Thursday at Christian Health Center on Faulkner Drive. Twenty-one patients and seven staff members at the 116-bed nursing and rehabilitation facility have tested positive for the novel coronavirus and are classified as active. One resident who previously tested positive is considered recovered.
Other active cases at local long-term care facilities include two staff members at Covington’s Convalescent and one staff member at Western State Nursing Facility.
The report, which also lists cases at Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities facilities, included two active staff cases at Western State Hospital, which is separate from the nursing facility. The hospital also reported nine pending patient tests and four pending staff tests.
Christian County schools
As schools across the state begin returning to in-person instruction, state health officials are tracking coronavirus cases at elementary, middle and high schools, as well as colleges and universities.
As of Thursday, there were five active student cases and three active staff cases reported at Christian County schools. The local schools with positive cases include Christian County Middle School, Heritage Christian Academy, Indian Hills Elementary School, Millbrooke Elementary School, Pembroke Elementary School and University Heights Academy.
Hopkinsville community college reported one active student case and two active staff cases.
(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.
