By Sarah Ladd
Kentucky Lantern
COVID-19 is “alive and well” in Kentucky, cautions infectious disease expert Dr. Mark Burns, as hospitalizations for the virus rise and students and teachers head back to school.
If a person feels sick, they should stay home to lower the risk of spreading the virus to others, Burns said.
“If they’re contagious, then they will spread it on,” he said. “So we’re asking people who are ill to stay home.”
Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services data shows an uptick in emergency department visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19 as of Aug. 1.
In July there were 438 hospitalizations for the virus in Kentucky, up from 292 hospitalizations in July of 2023.
Also in July 2023, there were 736 emergency room visits for COVID-19, up to 1,704 last month.
This comes as the virus is on the rise in Kentucky, among 35 other states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Much of the country, especially the South and Midwest, is seeing increased numbers of the COVID-19 virus ahead of the new school year and holiday season.