JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Kentucky

The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.

Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.

The United States as of March 30 reached 978,842 COVID-19-related deaths and 80 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 65.5% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 44.8% have received booster doses.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Kentucky using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to March 29, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.

Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Pike County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 112 (65 new cases, -36% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,609 (18,873 total cases)
— 11.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 487 (282 total deaths)
— 45.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.7% (30,488 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Leslie County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 121 (12 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,501 (3,704 total cases)
— 27.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 425 (42 total deaths)
— 27.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.9% (5,127 fully vaccinated)

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Kenton County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 125 (209 new cases, -24% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,009 (41,765 total cases)
— 14.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 232 (387 total deaths)
— 30.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.2% (100,493 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Boone County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 131 (175 new cases, -26% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,721 (37,030 total cases)
— 5.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 207 (277 total deaths)
— 38.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.9% (82,722 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Anderson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 132 (30 new cases, -68% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,478 (6,478 total cases)
— 3.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 299 (68 total deaths)
— 10.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.0% (12,521 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Robertson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 142 (3 new cases, -57% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,076 (634 total cases)
— 2.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 996 (21 total deaths)
— 198.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.5% (811 fully vaccinated)

Acdixon // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Todd County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 146 (18 new cases, +29% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,979 (2,948 total cases)
— 18.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 350 (43 total deaths)
— 4.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.1% (5,174 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Letcher County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 153 (33 new cases, -73% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,738 (7,056 total cases)
— 11.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 487 (105 total deaths)
— 45.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.0% (11,419 fully vaccinated)

Rdikeman // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Campbell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 157 (147 new cases, +8% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,399 (22,834 total cases)
— 17.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 175 (164 total deaths)
— 47.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.4% (59,350 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Trimble County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 165 (14 new cases, -61% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,924 (2,196 total cases)
— 11.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 460 (39 total deaths)
— 37.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.5% (3,682 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Gallatin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 169 (15 new cases, +36% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,817 (2,201 total cases)
— 15.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 541 (48 total deaths)
— 62.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.1% (3,645 fully vaccinated)

FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Lincoln County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 175 (43 new cases, +13% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,871 (6,351 total cases)
— 11.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 517 (127 total deaths)
— 54.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.7% (9,998 fully vaccinated)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Harrison County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 175 (33 new cases, -15% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,030 (6,238 total cases)
— 12.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 360 (68 total deaths)
— 7.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.9% (9,427 fully vaccinated)

No machine-readable author provided. Blinutne assumed (based on copyright claims). // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Whitley County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 179 (65 new cases, -45% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,331 (14,263 total cases)
— 33.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 494 (179 total deaths)
— 47.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.1% (15,986 fully vaccinated)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Hickman County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 183 (8 new cases, -47% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,361 (848 total cases)
— 34.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 571 (25 total deaths)
— 71.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 37.3% (1,633 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Russell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 190 (34 new cases, -69% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,731 (6,404 total cases)
— 21.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 480 (86 total deaths)
— 43.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.7% (8,188 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Barren County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 192 (85 new cases, +102% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,341 (12,983 total cases)
— 0.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 486 (215 total deaths)
— 45.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.8% (20,282 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Perry County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 210 (54 new cases, -47% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 42,224 (10,876 total cases)
— 43.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 625 (161 total deaths)
— 87.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.0% (15,964 fully vaccinated)

Dcoetzee // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Trigg County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 212 (31 new cases, -77% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,336 (4,005 total cases)
— 7.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 300 (44 total deaths)
— 10.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.8% (6,852 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Breathitt County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 222 (28 new cases, -40% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,382 (3,711 total cases)
— 0.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 404 (51 total deaths)
— 21.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (6,630 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Rowan County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 229 (56 new cases, +17% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,938 (6,589 total cases)
— 8.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 258 (63 total deaths)
— 22.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.3% (12,560 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Carlisle County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 231 (11 new cases, -39% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,134 (1,006 total cases)
— 28.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 399 (19 total deaths)
— 19.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.8% (1,940 fully vaccinated)

Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#28. McCracken County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 237 (155 new cases, +6% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,899 (18,251 total cases)
— 5.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 368 (241 total deaths)
— 10.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.5% (36,295 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Pendleton County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 247 (36 new cases, +500% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,790 (3,471 total cases)
— 19.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 254 (37 total deaths)
— 24.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.0% (6,415 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Grant County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 247 (62 new cases, -14% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,875 (6,988 total cases)
— 5.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 223 (56 total deaths)
— 33.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.7% (12,220 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Franklin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 249 (127 new cases, +20% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,640 (13,584 total cases)
— 9.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 280 (143 total deaths)
— 16.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.0% (31,118 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Wolfe County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 252 (18 new cases, -25% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,987 (2,504 total cases)
— 19.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 279 (20 total deaths)
— 16.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.6% (3,838 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Casey County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 260 (42 new cases, -71% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,010 (4,203 total cases)
— 11.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 446 (72 total deaths)
— 33.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.0% (5,821 fully vaccinated)

Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Ballard County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 266 (21 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,582 (1,308 total cases)
— 43.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 355 (28 total deaths)
— 6.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.1% (3,009 fully vaccinated)

FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Fleming County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 309 (45 new cases, +96% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,780 (3,759 total cases)
— 12.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 370 (54 total deaths)
— 10.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.4% (7,492 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Adair County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 339 (65 new cases, -49% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,544 (5,865 total cases)
— 4.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 536 (103 total deaths)
— 60.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.1% (7,508 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Bath County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 344 (43 new cases, -25% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,440 (3,055 total cases)
— 16.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 336 (42 total deaths)
— 0.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.7% (6,708 fully vaccinated)

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Clark County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 394 (143 new cases, +29% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,632 (10,383 total cases)
— 2.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 176 (64 total deaths)
— 47.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.3% (19,687 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Menifee County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 401 (26 new cases, +44% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,657 (1,600 total cases)
— 16.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 478 (31 total deaths)
— 43.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.3% (2,874 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Livingston County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 402 (37 new cases, -24% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,876 (2,471 total cases)
— 8.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 642 (59 total deaths)
— 92.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.2% (4,528 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Nicholas County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 413 (30 new cases, -3% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,101 (1,970 total cases)
— 7.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 426 (31 total deaths)
— 27.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.9% (3,847 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Bracken County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 422 (35 new cases, +338% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,882 (2,149 total cases)
— 11.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 289 (24 total deaths)
— 13.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.1% (3,910 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Laurel County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 437 (266 new cases, -24% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,871 (19,382 total cases)
— 8.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 358 (218 total deaths)
— 7.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.3% (24,525 fully vaccinated)

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Mason County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 439 (75 new cases, +32% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,862 (4,756 total cases)
— 5.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 603 (103 total deaths)
— 80.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.7% (8,660 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Elliott County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 452 (34 new cases, +79% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,595 (2,375 total cases)
— 7.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 239 (18 total deaths)
— 28.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 35.5% (2,667 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Taylor County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 458 (118 new cases, -11% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,907 (9,253 total cases)
— 22.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 458 (118 total deaths)
— 37.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.8% (12,308 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Green County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 475 (52 new cases, -21% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,001 (3,720 total cases)
— 15.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 384 (42 total deaths)
— 15.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.5% (4,760 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Cumberland County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 529 (35 new cases, +150% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,535 (2,218 total cases)
— 14.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 454 (30 total deaths)
— 35.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.4% (2,939 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Morgan County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 586 (78 new cases, +77% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,238 (4,956 total cases)
— 26.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 165 (22 total deaths)
— 50.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.0% (6,386 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Scott County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 595 (339 new cases, +46% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,203 (16,647 total cases)
— 0.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 175 (100 total deaths)
— 47.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.5% (31,627 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Pulaski County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 728 (473 new cases, +1% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,467 (17,848 total cases)
— 6.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 422 (274 total deaths)
— 26.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.0% (29,885 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Montgomery County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 742 (209 new cases, +31% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,599 (7,208 total cases)
— 12.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 330 (93 total deaths)
— 1.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.3% (13,045 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Clinton County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 861 (88 new cases, +22% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,261 (3,603 total cases)
— 20.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 480 (49 total deaths)
— 43.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.6% (4,146 fully vaccinated)

Kybluegrass // Wikimedia Commons

#2. McCreary County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 1,120 (193 new cases, +141% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,051 (5,695 total cases)
— 12.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 435 (75 total deaths)
— 30.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.0% (6,725 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Wayne County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 1,480 (301 new cases, +10% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,504 (5,999 total cases)
— 0.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 443 (90 total deaths)
— 32.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.7% (8,489 fully vaccinated)