For the first time in several months, Grayson County has fallen out of the “red” for two straight days as the county’s COVID-19 numbers have gradually declined over the last few weeks.
The county’s rate of occurrence, which topped out in the 180s, checked in at 20 on Monday and 21.6 on Tuesday.
The rate of occurrence represents the number of confirmed cases over a seven-day period per 100,000 people – An incident rate of 25-plus indicates a “critical spread” of the virus (“red” county). An incident rate between 11 and 25 signals a “substantial spread” of the virus (“orange” county), while an incident rate of 1 to 10 indicates a “moderate spread” of the virus (“yellow” county). An incident rate below 1 represents a “low spread” of the virus (“green” county).
The incidence rate is important because it provides a complete picture of the state of the pandemic in a community, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
Grayson County, since the beginning of the pandemic, has had 4,959 cases of the virus confirmed, with 95 confirmed deaths.
Grayson Co. vaccination rate
According to the Grayson County Health Department (GCHD), the county’s vaccination percentage has “stalled” at 51 percent. Health department officials warn that with such a low vaccination rate, holiday celebrations could be negatively impacted.
The GCHD notes that only about four percent of children between four- and 11-years-old have been vaccinated.
Free community COVID testing will be offered on November 24. Rapid testing will be available for those concerned about attending Thanksgiving gatherings, health department officials said.
For more information visit graysonhealthcenter.org.
Statewide COVID numbers
Kentucky reported a combined 2,547 new COVID cases on Monday (726) and Tuesday (1,821), to go along with a combined 48 deaths (10 Monday, 38 Tuesday).
The state has now had 764,686 total cases of the virus diagnosed since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. The new deaths increase the commonwealth’s death toll to 10,318 (1.3 percent fatality rate).
The positivity rate is 5.73 percent, the same as Monday but up from Friday’s 5.53 percent.
Hospitalization numbers are experiencing a slow climb, as 739 people are being treated in a hospital, up 36 from Friday. Patients in intensive care checked in at 204 on Tuesday, up 13 from Monday, and people on ventilators rose from 105 on Monday to 115 on Tuesday.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
