FRANKFORT, Ky. — Citing the surge and spread spurred by the omicron variant of COVID-19, Gov. Andy Beshear said Kentucky's positivity rate reached 14.46% on Wednesday, a record high previously set in early September.


What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky's COVID-19 positivity rate reached a record high on Wednesday

  • The 14.46% rate surpasses the previous record of 14.16% set in early September

  • Kentucky also reported a staggering 5,530 new cases Wednesday

“Folks, it’s clear Kentucky is now in a surge from Omicron,” Beshear said in a statement on Twitter. “This is the most contagious variant we’ve seen. Protect yourself and others: get vaccinated and get a booster shot.”

The previous record high positivity rate was set Sept. 8, 2021 when the state recorded 14.16%, according to state health data.

The first case of the omicron variant in the Commonwealth was identified on Dec. 17. New COVID-19 cases in the the U.S. have soared to over 265,000 per day on average, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, and per the CDC, new cases in a single day topped 440,00 on Monday this week.

Kentucky also reported a staggering 5,530 new cases and 21 COVID-related deaths Wednesday. A total of 12,118 Kentuckians have died of the novel coronavirus.

Over 1,400 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday's report.