Headline News

Deaths: We are happy to report no new deaths today. We have experienced a total of 39 deaths resulting in a 3.8% mortality rate among known cases.

Hospitalizations: We presently have 11 cases in the hospital. We have had a total of 109 hospitalizations resulting in a 10.6% hospitalization rate among known cases. The latest state data shows that 65% of ICU beds and 22% of ventilator capacity are being utilized.

Released (Recovered) Cases: We released 40 cases today from isolation (recovered). Released cases include: Adair: 1; Casey: 19; Cumberland: 2; McCreary: 2; Pulaski: 7; Russell: 2; Taylor: 5; and, Wayne: 2. In all, we have released 73.7% of our total cases.

Total (Cumulative) Cases: The Lake Cumberland District has experienced a total of 1030 cases since the onset of the outbreak. This has resulted in the health department reaching out to over 2780 individuals during our contact tracing.

Active (Current) Cases: Taking all things into account, this leaves us with 232 active cases in our district across all 10 of our district’s 10 counties. Of those active cases, 41 are asymptomatic.

New Cases: We report that our total case count has increased by 29 today: Adair: 1; Casey: 7; Clinton: 2; Cumberland: 2; Green: 1; McCreary: 3; Pulaski: 8; Russell: 2; Taylor: 1; and, Wayne: 2. Our current new case growth rate is: 1.03. This means our total case count is projected to double every 23.44 days. The new cases include:

Adair: A 37-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Casey: A 18-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
Casey: A 47-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Casey: A 84-year-old male who is hospitalized, still symptomatic
Casey: A 41-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Casey: A 19-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Casey: A 48-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Casey: A 64-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Clinton: A 30-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Clinton: A 14-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Cumberland: A 61-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Cumberland: A 31-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Green: A 30-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
McCreary: A 2-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
McCreary: A 3-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
McCreary: A 62-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 32-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 29-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 16-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
Pulaski: A 26-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 2-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 70-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 38-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 42-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 77-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Russell: A 34-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Russell: A 46-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Taylor: A 50-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
Wayne: A 87-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Wayne: A 65-year-old female who is released, 7/20/20

The last couple of days marks two milestones for Lake Cumberland. Yesterday, we surpassed 1,000 total confirmed cases. Also, today was the first day since the onset of the outbreak that we added new cases in all ten of our counties. Some counties are having new cases nearly every day (Pulaski has had new cases every day in July).

We now stand at 1,030 cumulative total cases for our district. That is a little less than 0.5% of our population, leaving 99.5% of our population to go (of course, there are some number of people who have had it we don’t know about). But, at 0.5% of our population having had COVID-19, we have had 39 deaths and 109 hospitalizations. You can do the math and see just how bad this can be if the growth rate grows too quickly.

The mortality rate for Lake Cumberland is 3.79%. It is 2.49% for Kentucky; 3.39% for the US, and 3.91% for the world. The average age of death in our district is 79 (with the youngest being 50). The hospitalization rate for Lake Cumberland is 10.58%; and for Kentucky, 11.24%. The average age of hospitalization for our district is 68 (with the youngest being 7).

We remind everyone that it extremely important to do everything you can to reduce your risk and the risk for those you love. Everyone should continue wearing their face coverings, avoiding crowds, social distancing, washing their hands frequently, increasing sanitation, and avoiding the touching of their faces.

The Lake Cumberland area has experienced 1,030 Cumulative Confirmed Cases and there have been 29,501 Confirmed COVID-19 cases across all 120 Kentucky Counties as of 07/30/20 (this includes 29,386 statewide plus 115 recently reported cases in Lake Cumberland not in the Governor’s/Department for Public Health’s daily report). Regardless of the confirmed case count for any Lake Cumberland County, we believe COVID-19 to be widespread. The LCDHD is working tirelessly, including nights and weekends, to identify and contact all those with whom any positive case may have come into close contact, and to follow-up daily with positive cases. Additionally, we are striving diligently to follow-up on business-related complaints regarding noncompliance with the Governor’s Executive Orders.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 30, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday updated Kentuckians on the state’s continuing efforts to fight the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

“Remember, we as a commonwealth, as a country and as planet Earth are in this war against this 1-in-100-year pandemic,” said Gov. Beshear. “It means we’ve got to show up every day to protect the health and lives of those around us, protect our economy and do everything we can to get our kids back in school.”

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. July 30, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 29,386 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 659 of which were newly reported Thursday. Twenty-two of the newly reported cases were from children ages 5 and younger.

“Our cases are a little up from yesterday, but our positivity rate is down because we’ve had more tests,” said Gov. Beshear. “Once we get the virus under control, we have to keep it under control. We can’t stop. We can’t let up. Until we have that vaccine, we’ve got to do what it takes.”

Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear reported seven new deaths Thursday, raising the total to 731 Kentuckians lost to the virus.

The deaths reported Thursday include a 75-year-old man from Casey County; a 65-year-old man from Christian County; a 92-year-old woman from Green County; an 82-year-old man from Greenup County; an 81-year-old woman from Ohio County; a 63-year-old woman from Simpson County; and a 70-year-old woman from Warren County.

“More and more people in their sixties,” said Gov. Beshear. “We know we are in this battle – and that now is a critical time to fight.”

As of Thursday, there have been at least 621,206 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate currently stands at 5.66%. At least 7,590 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.

For additional information, including up-to-date lists of positive cases and deaths, as well as breakdowns of coronavirus infections by county, race and ethnicity, click here.

Contact Tracing Update
Today, Mark Carter, executive policy advisor at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, updated Kentuckians on contact tracing and tracking across the commonwealth, an effort that Carter leads.

There are now 631 contact tracers in Kentucky and 63 more will be added Aug. 4. In addition, there are 190 disease investigators, 54 regional team members and 11 social support connectors.

He announced that the program has already seen notable successes. In addition to their work preventing COVID-19 from spreading, contact tracers are able to offer reassurance, help monitor symptoms and connect Kentuckians to food and medical support during quarantine and isolation. Also, local health departments report that many residents are well-prepared and take the time to write down their contacts before they are contacted by contact tracers.

“Overwhelmingly once the health department is able to reach people, they are being cooperative. They want to protect their health, they want to protect their loved ones,” said Carter.

Carter said his team’s greatest challenge is that some residents still do not understand the seriousness of COVID-19. People believe they do not have the disease and refuse to name their contacts, contributing to more positive cases and the loss of information.

“I feel like the progress is good, we’re in good shape. But we all worry about what might happen with the spread of the virus and what it might mean for our public health response,” said Carter.

COVID-19 Long-Term Side Effects Update
Today, Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Department for Public Health, provided an update on the known long-term side effects of COVID-19.

“People in high-risk categories are relying on the rest of us to behave responsibly,” said Dr. Stack. “I may not be at high-risk, but other people are and I have an obligation to not recklessly endanger them.”

In children, COVID-19 can cause multisystem inflammatory disorder, rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, low blood pressure, shock and heart damage.

In young adults, COVID-19 can cause blood clotting disorders, including strokes and pulmonary embolisms. One in five young adults still have symptoms 14 to 21 days after being diagnosed with COVID-19. In severe cases, recovery can take six weeks or more.

Adults 50 years old or older are twice as likely as young adults to have symptoms 14 to 21 days after diagnosis.

Finally, COVID-19 survivors of any age may have long-term, irreversible lung damage.

Dr. Stack emphasized that some side effects of this new virus may still be unknown, and its side effects that we already know about highlight why our fight against COVID-19 is so important.

“There’s a lot we don’t know, and so I’m not trying to fear-monger, I’m just trying to tell you, there’s a lot we don’t know,” said Dr. Stack.

More Information
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Kentuckians can also access translated COVID-19 information and daily summaries of the Governor’s news conference at teamkentuckytranslations.com.

July 30, 2020

As of 12:54 p.m. on July 30, 2020 the boil water advisory for customers on Gradyville Country Club Road, Burris Sneed Road, Richard Hollow Road, and Tarter Road has been lifted by the Division of Water. This means your water is safe for human consumption. You no longer have to boil your water.

Thank You

Columbia Adair Utilities District

Date Issued 7/29/2020

Time Issued 3:20 P.M.

 

A BOIL WATER ADVISORY is in effect for consumers on Richard Hollow Road, Tarter Road, Gradyville Country Club Road and Burris Sneed Road.

The advisory has been issued due to main line leak.

Following such an event, the potential exists for bacteriological contamination of the water supply therefore this Boil Water Advisory has been issued as a precautionary measure.

Until further notice, boil all water used for drinking and cooking, bringing the water to a rolling boil for three minutes before using.

This advisory will remain in effect until the situation has been corrected and test results have shown the water to be of an acceptable quality.

For more information concerning the Boil Water Advisory, contact Lennon Stone at Columbia Adair Utilities District, 270-384-2181.

Russell Springs, KY (July 30, 2020) – Kentucky State Police Post 15 Troopers responded to a two-vehicle collision in Russell County Wednesday afternoon. On July 29, 2020 at approximately 3:40 P.M., KSP Post 15 received a call of a two-vehicle collision at the 61-mile marker on the Louie B. Nunn Parkway in Russell County. The preliminary investigation revealed that Keith Coffman, age 45 of Bowling Green, was traveling westbound in a 2019 Ford pickup truck towing trailers. For an unknown reason, Coffman’s vehicle left the right shoulder of the roadway and the trailer he was towing struck pedestrian Joe Birdwell, age 71 of Columbia, and a 1997 Dodge pickup truck, which was parked in the westbound emergency lane.

Birdwell was flown to University of Kentucky Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. A passenger of Birdwell’s vehicle Kenneth Davis, age 76 of Columbia, was also flown to University of Kentucky Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Portion of the westbound lanes of the Louie B. Nunn Parkway were closed for several hours in order to allow troopers to investigate the collision. KSP Post 15 was assisted at the scene by the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, fire, ems and rescue. The collision is still under investigation by Trooper Jason Warinner.