FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky reported 37 deaths Wednesday, marking the highest number of deaths in a single day from COVID-19. It broke the record set just a day before on Tuesday.

The report comes as Kentucky also reported its sixth-highest number of new cases in a day with 3,601. The seven-day positivity rate is at 9.62%, also a record-high number dating back to when testing became widely available in May.

While Kentucky continues to break records, the White House warns the risk from the coronavirus is at a historic high, according to the latest report on how Kentucky is handling the virus.

“We are in a very dangerous place due to the current, extremely high COVID baseline and limited hospital capacity,” the report said. “A further post-Thanksgiving surge will compromise COVID patient care, as well as medical care overall.”

The report highlights many things Kentuckians should do to slow the spread of the virus, but specifically, it says new orders put in place by Gov. Andy Beshear should result in a rapid decrease in transmission, but only if compliance is high.

“We know what it takes. We have the game plan. We just have to have the will to do it,” Beshear said.

During Wednesday’s coronavirus briefing, Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack discussed a study from researchers at the University of Louisville which shows thousands of hospitalizations can be prevented if guidelines are followed.

The report separated Kentucky into 10 groups based on region and projected their hospitalizations over the next month and a half based on varying levels of compliance.

• Region two, which includes Owensboro, could reduce hospitalizations by 763 people.
• Region three, which includes Louisville and the surrounding area, could reduce hospitalizations by 1,583 people.
• Region four, which includes Bowling Green, could see 226 fewer hospitalizations if restrictions are followed.

“Every time we choose to follow simpler, easier guidance, like wear a mask. Every time you’re in public, stay six feet away from everyone not inside your house. Every time we choose to disregard that, we cause more people to get infected, more people to be hospitalized, more people to die, more strain on the hospitals so places like King’s Daughters [Medical Center] have to use a lobby for a treatment area,” Stack said, citing recent reports about how the hospital in Ashland is dealing with an influx of COVID-19 patients.

Good news is around the corner with vaccines, but Stack says those vaccines are still months away from having a major impact on the state’s population, and people need to be more cautious to save hospitals from being overrun.