COVID-19

Beshear reported 425 new cases of the virus on Sunday, about 375 fewer than yesterday, but higher than a typical report on a Sunday, when fewer testing laboratories report to the state.

Dr. Steven Stack noted that at least 34 states some version of a mask mandate, including the bordering states of Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia, and the top recommendation in the latest White House Coronavirus Task Force report is for Kentucky to keep its mandate and work with local communities to ensure higher usage rates.

The share of Kentuckians testing positive for the virus has crept up as this week has progressed, increasing from 5.18% on Monday to Saturday's rate of 6.02%, the highest it's been since May.

The health department reported 51 new cases this week — nearly half of last week's total and less than any week in the month of July.

The Kentucky Education Association said in-person schooling shouldn't resume until state and local rates are under 4% for three weeks

The health department also reported five newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, pushing the county’s case total to 618.

Gov. Andy Beshear reported 516 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday. He said Monday through Thursday of this week has had 247 less cases than compared to last week.

It is the county's third death attributed to COVID-19 in the last two weeks.

The governor said some schools that opened early in other states have had to close due to surges in cases.

Beshear reported that 638 Kentuckians are hospitalized for COVID-19, but he did not note that the figure was the highest daily hospital census yet attributed to the disease in Kentucky. It was a 4% jump from the 612 reported Monday.

Previously, the largest reported number of patients known to have COVID-19 was seven.

The governor reported 323 new cases on Monday and said 612 Kentuckians in the hospital with the virus, and 136 of them in intensive care.