Kentucky’s COVID-19 positivity fell for the 11^th straight day on Friday, while the number of new cases and deaths also decreased.

The positivity rate stood at 8.75%, based on a seven-day rolling average.  It had peaked at 11.64% back on Jan. 18 and is now the lowest for 2021.

“Our declining positivity rate shows that Kentuckians are continuing to make those small sacrifices we’ve been talking about all year in order to protect each other until we get enough vaccines for everyone who wants one,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Wearing masks around people from different households, social distancing, washing their hands, staying home when they can and getting tested regularly.  It’s the simple things you’re probably sick of hearing about by now that can make the biggest difference as we near the finish line.”

A total of 2,608 new cases of the coronavirus were reported to state health officials on Friday, a drop of 339 from Thursday, and bringing the pandemic total to 358,478.

Four counties had more than 100 cases: Jefferson 360, Fayette 194, Kenton 133, and Daviess 114.  The rest of the top ten counties were Boone 98, Campbell 89, Morgan 78, Franklin 74,Warren 55, and Pike with 54.

Kentucky also had 57 new deaths on Friday, following Thursday’s single-day record of 69.  This raises to 3,668 the number of Kentuckians lost to the coronavirus.

The latest victims ranged in age from 47 to 101.  Six were from Pike County; Fayette and Warren counties each had five; there were four in Christian, Grayson, and Jefferson counties; three in Madison County; two each in Jackson, Lawrence, McCreary, Muhlenberg, and Simpson counties; while Barren, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Caldwell, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, Hart, Hopkins, Lewis, Logan, Marshall, Monroe, and Union counties each had one.

A total of 1,505 Kentuckians were hospitalized on Friday with COVID-19.  Of them, 355 were in intensive care and 199 on a ventilator, all lower than on Thursday.

On Jan. 20, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, extended a federal moratorium on evictions until at least March 31.  Following the CDC’s order, Gov. Beshear on Friday signed an executive order extending Kentucky’s moratorium on evictions to at least March 31.

The number of red zone counties, those who have a COVID-19 incidence rate of more than 25 per 100,000 population, is down to 111.  Elliott and Owsley counties are yellow, meaning their incidence rate is less that 10 per 100,000; while Carlisle, Crittenden, Knott, Lee, Magoffin, Montgomery and Lyon counties are orange, with a rate between 10-25 per 100,000 population.

To see the full daily COVID-19 report for Kentucky, which includes such information as the red zone counties and red zone recommendations, testing locations, the weekly White House Coronavirus Task Force reports for Kentucky, executive orders, vaccine distribution, and other information on the state’s pandemic response, go to kycovid19.ky.gov.

Gov. Beshear does not have a live press briefing schedule until Monday afternoon at 4.  However, his office is expected to report the daily numbers throughout the weekend.