The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

COVID-19 cases are rising again

40 new virus cases here in seven days


Health officials are urging residents to wear their masks and to wear them correctly as the number of COVID-19 cases in Kentucky continues to rise.

As of Monday, at least 82 of the state’s 120 counties have reached a critical point in the pandemic, with more than 25 cases per 100,000.

It is unclear what the rate in Letcher County is. The incident rate here was nearly in the red zone last Thursday, and the local school district’s calculations would put it close to the point the in-person classes must be canceled after this week.

However, the incident rate showing on the state’s map is firmly in orange, at a rate of 17.9, even though the number of cases has increased dramatically over the previous week, up to 350 from 310 last week, according to figures from the Kentucky River District Health Department.

“ That number doesn’t make sense,” Letcher County School Superintendent Denise Yonts said.

The incidence rate is computed on a seven-day rolling average. According to the state’s web site, the rate is computed by dividing the number of new cases in the past seven days by seven, dividing again by the population (21,553), and then multiplying by 100,000.

There were 40 new cases for the seven days ending Tuesday, which should make the incident rate here 24.2.

Yonts said the district is trying to determine what is causing the discrepancy. The district keeps track of the figures daily and computes the rate, but it must use the rate on the state’s web site at 8 p.m. each Thursday to determine whether there will be school the following week.

Susan Dunlap, executive director of public affairs for the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said Tuesday that she was attempting to get an answer from someone in the department about the difference in numbers.

Statewide, cases are increased at a much higher rate than before, with more than 2,000 new cases reported every day this week. Every county around Letcher County is in the red zone with rates over 25 per 100,000.

In Letcher County, the jail reported two positive cases this week, one for an inmate who was arrested and then made bond and another for an inmate now quarantined inside the jail. Jailer Bert Slone said 15-minute tests on Tuesday came back negative for everyone tested, but they are still awaiting the more accurate 48-hour tests. One of the two inmates who tested positive with the 48-hour tests had tested negative with the quick test.

One football player at Letcher Central High School has also tested positive this week.

Totals for Letcher and the surrounding counties as of Tuesday were: Knott – Total 429 (44 probable) (215 active, 207 recovered, 7 dead); Lee – Total 186 (21 probable) (18 active, 157 recovered, 11 dead); Leslie – Total 158 (13 probable) (84 active, 73 recovered, 1 dead); Letcher – Total 350 (102 probable) (164 active, 184 recovered, 2 dead); Owsley – Total 106 (33 probable) (11 active, 94 recovered, 1 dead); Perry – Total 668 (49 probable) (248 active, 411 recovered, 9 dead); Wolfe – Total 107 (24 probable) (34 active, 73 recovered); Pike – Total 1,288 (399 active, 877 recovered, 12 dead); Harlan – Total 698; Wise County, Va. – Total 887 (49 hospitalized, 11 dead); Norton, Va. – Total 62 (5 hospitalized).

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