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Here are 80 KY counties where the CDC recommends wearing a mask as BA.5 variant spreads

Jackie Starkey
·3 min read

Federal health officials have moved 19 more Kentucky counties to the high COVID-19 community level designation as of Thursday, bringing the total to 80 counties, or 66% of the state, as the BA.5 variant continues its sweep of the U.S.

The move is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly update to COVID-19 community levels, a metric that incorporates new reported cases and COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people in the past seven days, as well as a seven-day average of hospital beds occupied by COVID patients.

In a county designated as high, the CDC recommends masking in indoor, public places, staying updated on vaccines and getting tested if you have symptoms.

Those counties in the western part of the state at a high level as of July 22 include Hancock, Daviess, Ohio, Muhlenberg, McClean, Henderson, Hopkins, Webster, Union, Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg, Marshall, McCracken, Graves, Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman and Fulton.

This map of Kentucky from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows COVID-19 community levels as of July 22, 2022. The orange counties are at high levels, the yellow at medium and the green at low.
This map of Kentucky from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows COVID-19 community levels as of July 22, 2022. The orange counties are at high levels, the yellow at medium and the green at low.

Through the central stretch, Kenton, Boone, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Scott, Clark, Fayette, Woodford, Madison, Jessamine, Garrard, Mercer, Boyle, Lincoln, Rockcastle, Washington, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, Bullitt, Jefferson, Shelby, Metcalfe, Cumberland, Monroe, Barren and Henry counties are all at high.

Eastern Kentucky counties that also scored high include Lewis, Greenup, Carter, Boyd, Lawrence, Elliott, Rowan, Bath, Montgomery, Menifee, Morgan, Johnson, Martin, Floyd, Pike, Magoffin, Wolfe, Powell, Lee, Breathitt, Knott, Owsley, Letcher, Perry, Harlan, Leslie, Clay, Bell, Knox, Laurel and Whitley.

Of the remaining counties in Kentucky, seven are scored at a low community level, while the rest are at medium.

The increasing number of high counties in Kentucky – up from 61 the week prior – comes as the BA.5 variant of omicron dominates U.S. cases. It is the most transmissible variant yet and accounts for nearly 80% of COVID-19 cases in the country. Additionally, researchers believe the strain is 4 times more resistant to vaccines.

As for the CDC’s community levels, those who live in areas scored low are encouraged to test if they have symptoms and make sure they are up to date on vaccinations and boosters. In addition, those in counties marked medium are advised to wear a mask or take other additional precautions if they are more at risk for serious illness.

A separate CDC metric – community transmission levels – shows like much of the nation, all Kentucky counties are at a high transmission level.

State COVID-19 data

The commonwealth of Kentucky reported Monday an increase of 12,798 new cases over the previous week, along with 49 new COVID deaths among state residents.

The positivity rate has shot up over the past week as well, from 16.96% to 17.70%.

“There is a lot of COVID out there,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a Thursday press conference, noting an escalation “week over week.”

“COVID is spreading, it’s spreading a lot faster than it was last month, and a lot of people are getting it.”

He also noted an uptick in hospitalizations as opposed to the last few months, but said the increase was “nowhere close to the increase in cases.”

Like state, local and federal health officials, the governor urged Kentuckians to get vaccinated.

Coronavirus in Fayette County

In Lexington, which remains at a high community level, the case rate for the week is 275.72, while the positivity rate sits around 16.7%, according to CDC data.

In the last seven days, more than 4,700 test have been performed in Fayette County, though that is a known undercount given the widespread use of at-home testing.

According to the state’s reports, 629 of Kentucky’s COVID deaths were Fayette County residents, including one new death reported Monday.

Monday, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reported it will stop posting its COVID-19 data publicly online beginning next month. The data will still be available via the state’s weekly update.

Do you have a question about COVID-19 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.