Henderson County's COVID cases fall 41%; Kentucky cases plummet 29.4%

Mike Stucka USA TODAY NETWORK
·3 min read
In 2020, the COVID pandemic cancelled graduations across the country. In Florida, Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School came up with an alternative: a beach walk in their caps and gowns 6feet apart. The event was so popular, it is now a tradition the day before their actual graduation.
In 2020, the COVID pandemic cancelled graduations across the country. In Florida, Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School came up with an alternative: a beach walk in their caps and gowns 6feet apart. The event was so popular, it is now a tradition the day before their actual graduation.

Kentucky reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 6,016 new cases. That's down 29.4% from the previous week's tally of 8,525 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Kentucky ranked 33rd among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 11.3% from the week before, with 702,236 cases reported. With 1.34% of the country's population, Kentucky had 0.86% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, 32 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.

Henderson County reported 23 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 39 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 14,034 cases and 168 deaths.

Union County reported 12 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported two cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 4,355 cases and 57 deaths.

Webster County reported seven cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported nine cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 3,930 cases and 49 deaths.

Across Kentucky, cases fell in 35 counties, with the best declines in Hardin County, with 202 cases from 311 a week earlier; in Montgomery County, with 109 cases from 203; and in Fleming County, with 20 cases from 49.

>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

Kentucky ranked 38th among states in share of people receiving at least one shot, with 66.2% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 77.7%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the most used in the United States, require two doses administered a few weeks apart.

In the week ending Wednesday, Kentucky reported administering another 23,109 vaccine doses, including 3,090 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 26,392 vaccine doses, including 3,116 first doses. In all, Kentucky reported it has administered 6,532,972 total doses.

Within Kentucky, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Henry County with 862 cases per 100,000 per week; Johnson County with 419; and Montgomery County with 387. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Adding the most new cases overall were Jefferson County, with 2,643 cases; Fayette County, with 792 cases; and Bullitt County, with 283. Weekly case counts rose in 81 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Jefferson, Bullitt and Fayette counties.

In Kentucky, 41 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 76 people were reported dead.

A total of 1,352,114 people in Kentucky have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 15,933 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 83,984,644 people have tested positive and 1,004,733 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

Kentucky's COVID-19 hospital admissions staying flat

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, May 29.

Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:

  • Last week: 754

  • The week before that: 744

  • Four weeks ago: 586

Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:

  • Last week: 55,952

  • The week before that: 52,036

  • Four weeks ago: 41,964

Hospitals in 34 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 33 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 35 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Henderson County reported 23 additional COVID-19 cases this week