Gov. Andy Beshear encouraged Kentuckians in a press release Friday to continue following coronavirus guidelines as the statewide test positivity rate dropped below 9 percent, following more than a week of the rate dropping.
Beshear reported 3,691 new cases Friday, bringing the state total number of cases to 217,120. There were 22 additional deaths, which brought the state total to 2,168. The state positivity rate was aat 8.86%. Though the number of cases remains high, Beshear noted progress was being made in the pandemic.
“These numbers are still high, and we are still watching for any increases related to the Thanksgiving holiday, but we are making progress in our fight against this invisible enemy,” he said in a statement. “I hope this gives everyone the courage and grit to keep going, to keep doing what we know is right, things like wearing a mask and staying socially distant, because we know they are working.”
As of Friday, there were 1,717 current hospitalizations, including 432 people in the ICU and 253 people on ventilators.
Counties with the highest positivity test rates included Jefferson, Fayette, Kenton, and Boone counties.
Calloway County Health Department reported 13 new cases, which brings the county total to 2,015. There are currently20 hospitalizations, and 31 deaths to date.
