By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
The latest Kentucky COVID-19 Community Level map, which is issued each week based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shows a drop in the number of counties that have a high community level.
The Community Levels map breaks down by county whether the COVID level is green for low, yellow for medium and red for high levels which the CDC says is designed to help individuals and communities decide which prevention actions to take based on hospitalizations and cases.
The August 12 map showed 79 red counties, 30 in the yellow and 11 that are green, while the map released on August 19 has the number of red counties down to 73, with 38 yellow and nine that are in the green. Going back to July 29, there were 80 red counties and the rest were yellow. No counties were green in that report.
The three NKY counties of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton are in the yellow (medium) zone.
“I am hopeful that we are seeing a plateau, or even a decline in many communities,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Several counties are back to low COVID-19 community levels, though we still have more red than we ever want to see.”
He said there is still a recommendation for masks to be worn, “especially by persons who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease, at indoor public spaces in the read areas.”
Beshear added, “The number one thing you can do to prevent serious illness is get vaccinated, get boosted and if you’re eligible get that second booster.”
For more details and guidance, go to the state’s COVID-19 website.
Monkeypox
Although the U.S. government declared monkeypox a public health emergency earlier this month, there has only been a slow rise of cases in Kentucky.
The first case was detected in the state in late June, and since then the statewide total has risen to 18 as of Friday, an increase of seven since last week, according to the CDC. This compares to 14,115 cases nationwide, up more than 3,300 in the past seven days.
“To reduce the risk of individuals,” the Governor said, “individuals should avoid close contacts with partners who have skin rashes or lesions. Anyone concerned they may have symptoms or who may have been exposed to the monkeypox virus, should go talk to their healthcare provider right now.”