Kentucky COVID-19 cases have seen intermittent spikes in recent weeks, while state influenza cases have seen a consistent decrease, according to the most recent reports from the Kentucky Department of Health (DPH) as of Jan. 30.
The DPH’s weekly COVID-19 reports for January 2023 initially showed a steady increase in cases. From Dec. 27 to Jan. 2, 3,532 cases were cataloged, increasing to 6,208 and 7,559 in the two following weeks. The numbers decreased to 4,913 for the week of Jan. 17-23, then increased to 6,369 for the Jan. 30 report. Kentucky’s positivity rate stands at 10.05% as of Jan. 30, down from 11.78% two weeks prior.
These numbers are assumed to be undercounted, as many individuals who test from home do not report positive results, according to the DPH’s website.
There have now been 1,685,679 reported COVID-19 cases in Kentucky since the first was reported in March 2020.
The most recent influenza update, listed for the week of Jan. 15-21, confirms 309 cases, down from 633 from Jan. 8-14 and 967 from Jan. 1-7. These numbers bring the 2022-2023 seasonal total to 39,425 cases, including 132 deaths.
From Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, 7,192 flu cases were confirmed in Kentucky. As a result, the DPH categorized Kentucky’s flu levels at “Widespread,” the highest level on the organization’s five-step Influenza Activity scale. With the steady decline in recent weeks, the level has been decreased by one, to “Regional.” The decrease in level means that less than half the counties in Kentucky are experiencing flu outbreaks, according to the scale description provided in the reports.
