More than 1,000 new cases reported in four counties

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

More than 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 cases were reported in Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties.

A total of 1,115 new coronavirus cases were reported in the four counties between Tuesday, Jan. 18, and Monday, Jan. 24. A total of 762 new cases were reported during the previous seven-day period.

More than half of the new cases — 595 — were reported in Floyd County.

The Floyd County Health Department said Friday that it was behind in COVID-19 case investigations due to the county’s escalating numbers.

“Your testing site should notify you of your COVID results,” the health department said in a Facebook post Friday. “You should stay home until you receive results to avoid spreading the virus.

“If you are positive you should isolate from others in your home. Do not wait to hear from the health department.

“Staff will be working tomorrow to try to catch up.

“Consider getting vaccinated or getting your booster.

“Wear a well fitted mask, wash your hands, and stay 6 feet from others in public places to lessen the risk of getting the virus.”

Other new cases were 171 in Lawrence County, 204 in Johnson County and 145 in Martin County.

The Lawrence County Health Department said Thursday that it also is “falling further and further behind contacting COVID-19 positive cases.”

“It may be several days before you are contacted or you may not be contacted at all,” the health department said in a Facebook post. “If you have any questions regarding your isolation or quarantine, please call the health department.”

Active cases in the four counties on Monday included 27 in Lawrence, 357 in Johnson, 915 in Floyd and 208 in Martin.

Johnson County reported three additional COVID-19 deaths, including one each on Jan. 18, Jan. 19 and Jan. 20. Lawrence County reported one additional death on Monday.

Total cases since the pandemic began in March 2020 are 3,654 in Lawrence County, 5,441 in Johnson County, 9,540 in Floyd County and 2,777 in Martin County.

All 120 Kentucky counties were in the red zone on Monday on the state’s incidence-rate map. Local rates on Monday were 174.4 in Lawrence County, 106.2 in Johnson County, 185.5 in Floyd County and 188.9 in Martin County.