BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County has had two additional COVID-19-related deaths, the first reported since March 2022.

The two deaths were announced Tuesday, bringing the county’s COVID-19 death toll to 52.

The health department reported 64 new COVID-19 cases in the county were laboratory-confirmed from Dec. 20-Jan. 17, bringing the case count to 4,594.

However, MCHD Director Stephen Ward says COVID home testing distorts the accuracy of the numbers.

“With home tests readily available to the public, there are a number of positive cases that are not reported to us,” said Ward. “Some will contact us if they’re positive, but most do not. We have no way of getting an accurate count if we aren’t informed.”

Inez physician Don Chaffin says there has been a decrease in positive cases of influenza and RSV, but the number of COVID cases has remained steady at his clinic.

“As crowds gather for events such as ballgames, it’s the perfect opportunity to spread the virus,” Chaffin said. “I encourage anyone who finds themselves in the midst of a number of people to wear a mask and practice the guidelines we have preached since the beginning: Wash your hands often, disinfect when possible and use common sense while making decisions about attending gatherings and events.”

Chaffin also stresses the importance of being fully vaccinated against COVID, noting that herd immunity is working, “but we still have a long way to go.”

Across Kentucky, the total number of confirmed cases reached 1,680,601 and deaths 17,793 in the most recent report. The state’s weekly positivity rate was 10.37%.

The CDC reports 16 Kentucky counties had a high COVID community level, which takes into account weekly averages of new infections, hospital admissions and capacity. Those counties are Martin, Pike, Lawrence, Simpson, Allen, Clinton, Boyle, Perry, Breathitt, Menifee, Rowan, Carter, Greenup, Boyd, Elliot and Morgan. 

Kentucky added more than 5,000 cases last week.