Omicron surge takes Kentucky to staggering new threshold for COVID-19 cases
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Kentucky has now reported more than 1 million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic hit the state in March 2020.
The state hit the milestone over the holiday weekend with 6,644 new cases on Monday and 24,626 over Saturday and Sunday, state data showed Tuesday.
The commonwealth has now reported 1,014,703 positive cases.
"This is certainly the most contagious COVID has been by far," Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday.
The pandemic milestone comes as Kentucky grapples with the highly infectious omicron variant, which has driven cases to record heights this month.
More: 'All the things we took for granted': Variants, vax rate propel Kentucky to 1M COVID cases
Across the United States, the total number of COVID-19 cases as of Jan. 12 was 63,397,935 for the duration of the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Currently, about 1 in 3 people who get tested for COVID-19 are positive in Louisville, the county positivity rate — 34% — shows.
Statewide the number is slightly lower than that at 30%.
Hospitalizations, too, are on the rise. Louisville set a record for total number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Tuesday.
Background: Kentucky COVID-19 cases skyrocket, positivity rate hits record amid omicron surge
Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage, the associate medical director for the health department, said the area’s hospitals have 527 COVID-19 patients, up from the previous record of 399.
The city reported 16,000 new cases last week alone.
Statewide, all but one hospital region is in the red, meaning they are filling up, with COVID-19 patients.
As of Jan. 12, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people accounted for 80% of all cases since March 1. That percentage increases to 83% for all deaths.
"Clearly omicron is unlike any prior chapter in this pandemic," state Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steve Stack said. "Hospitals are struggling, and some have even declared crisis standards for staffing in order to bring back staff from quarantine or isolation earlier in order to help provide care for people who are hospitalized."
Stack said the state may peak with omicron within the next week or two based on how it compares with the variant's trajectories in other states. He called the current numbers "stratospheric new heights."
Reach health reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky has now reported 1 million COVID-19 cases as Omicron surges
