W.marsh // 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 Aug. 24 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 93.8 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 67.4% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 48.4% of vaccinated people 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 Aug. 23, 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.

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#50. Green County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 283 (31 new cases, +55% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,574 (4,111 total cases)
— 10.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 430 (47 total deaths)
— 15.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.2% (4,831 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Lawrence County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 287 (44 new cases, -12% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,696 (5,008 total cases)
— 4.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 496 (76 total deaths)
— 33.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.2% (7,543 fully vaccinated)

HiB2Bornot2B // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Johnson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 288 (64 new cases, +31% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,725 (7,483 total cases)
— 1.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 572 (127 total deaths)
— 53.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (11,289 fully vaccinated)

OPMaster // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Warren County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 288 (383 new cases, +9% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,330 (48,281 total cases)
— 6.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 293 (389 total deaths)
— 21.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.3% (52,291 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Woodford County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 292 (78 new cases, +15% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,732 (8,216 total cases)
— 9.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 198 (53 total deaths)
— 46.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.2% (17,965 fully vaccinated)

Hunter Hawley // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Breckinridge County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 293 (60 new cases, +20% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,456 (5,827 total cases)
— 16.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 415 (85 total deaths)
— 11.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (10,275 fully vaccinated)

Joel Bradshaw // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Ohio County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 296 (71 new cases, +82% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,963 (8,149 total cases)
— 0.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 438 (105 total deaths)
— 17.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.5% (9,726 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Wayne County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 300 (61 new cases, +36% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,443 (6,800 total cases)
— 1.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 472 (96 total deaths)
— 26.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.9% (8,728 fully vaccinated)

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#42. Clay County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 301 (60 new cases, -2% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 42,767 (8,511 total cases)
— 25.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 497 (99 total deaths)
— 33.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.5% (9,048 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Clinton County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 303 (31 new cases, -31% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,517 (4,140 total cases)
— 18.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 528 (54 total deaths)
— 41.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.8% (4,275 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Larue County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 306 (44 new cases, +69% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,532 (4,252 total cases)
— 13.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 514 (74 total deaths)
— 38.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.3% (6,375 fully vaccinated)

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#39. Russell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 318 (57 new cases, -10% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,960 (7,162 total cases)
— 17.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 508 (91 total deaths)
— 36.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.5% (8,340 fully vaccinated)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Monroe County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 319 (34 new cases, +6% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,775 (4,023 total cases)
— 10.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 798 (85 total deaths)
— 114.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.8% (4,985 fully vaccinated)

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#37. Elliott County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 319 (24 new cases, -14% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,827 (3,069 total cases)
— 19.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 266 (20 total deaths)
— 28.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.1% (2,717 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Franklin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 320 (163 new cases, +11% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,751 (16,190 total cases)
— 6.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 322 (164 total deaths)
— 13.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.4% (31,796 fully vaccinated)

CoryClaxon // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Carter County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 325 (87 new cases, -15% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,915 (10,160 total cases)
— 11.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 414 (111 total deaths)
— 11.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.9% (13,378 fully vaccinated)

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

#34. Lincoln County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 326 (80 new cases, +43% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,016 (7,614 total cases)
— 9.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 566 (139 total deaths)
— 52.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.6% (10,206 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Montgomery County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 341 (96 new cases, +22% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,362 (9,957 total cases)
— 3.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 394 (111 total deaths)
— 5.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.5% (13,385 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Lee County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 351 (26 new cases, -16% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 42,780 (3,167 total cases)
— 25.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 756 (56 total deaths)
— 103.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.4% (3,730 fully vaccinated)

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#31. Casey County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 359 (58 new cases, +5% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,845 (4,661 total cases)
— 15.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 483 (78 total deaths)
— 29.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.8% (5,951 fully vaccinated)

Megangen1990 // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Muhlenberg County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 359 (110 new cases, +6% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,852 (11,591 total cases)
— 11.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 418 (128 total deaths)
— 12.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.0% (15,937 fully vaccinated)

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#29. Nelson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 363 (168 new cases, +16% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,858 (16,578 total cases)
— 5.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 344 (159 total deaths)
— 7.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.1% (24,558 fully vaccinated)

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#28. Floyd County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 368 (131 new cases, -16% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,403 (14,379 total cases)
— 18.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 646 (230 total deaths)
— 73.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.8% (20,575 fully vaccinated)

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#27. Mercer County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 374 (82 new cases, +78% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,002 (8,335 total cases)
— 11.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 497 (109 total deaths)
— 33.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.3% (12,138 fully vaccinated)

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#26. Boyd County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 381 (178 new cases, -19% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 41,414 (19,348 total cases)
— 21.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 405 (189 total deaths)
— 8.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (23,471 fully vaccinated)

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#25. Hardin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 385 (427 new cases, +7% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,573 (38,361 total cases)
— 1.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 413 (458 total deaths)
— 11.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.0% (73,235 fully vaccinated)

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#24. Powell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 396 (49 new cases, -2% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 43,507 (5,377 total cases)
— 27.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 380 (47 total deaths)
— 2.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.5% (6,615 fully vaccinated)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Harrison County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 402 (76 new cases, +81% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,866 (7,529 total cases)
— 17.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 450 (85 total deaths)
— 21.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.8% (9,591 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Laurel County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 409 (249 new cases, +29% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,133 (23,190 total cases)
— 11.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 429 (261 total deaths)
— 15.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.0% (24,933 fully vaccinated)

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#21. Morgan County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 421 (56 new cases, -5% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 44,196 (5,882 total cases)
— 29.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 248 (33 total deaths)
— 33.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.8% (6,489 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Rowan County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 429 (105 new cases, -14% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,604 (7,975 total cases)
— 4.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 303 (74 total deaths)
— 18.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.0% (12,972 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Bath County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 432 (54 new cases, +35% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,168 (3,771 total cases)
— 11.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 392 (49 total deaths)
— 5.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.8% (6,849 fully vaccinated)

verygreen // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Rockcastle County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 455 (76 new cases, +73% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,687 (5,624 total cases)
— 1.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 377 (63 total deaths)
— 1.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.1% (6,861 fully vaccinated)

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#17. Breathitt County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 459 (58 new cases, -5% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,804 (4,522 total cases)
— 5.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 443 (56 total deaths)
— 19.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.4% (6,748 fully vaccinated)

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

#16. Whitley County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 469 (170 new cases, +42% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 41,816 (15,164 total cases)
— 22.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 587 (213 total deaths)
— 57.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.2% (16,390 fully vaccinated)

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#15. Magoffin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 485 (59 new cases, +18% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,135 (4,516 total cases)
— 9.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 452 (55 total deaths)
— 21.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.7% (6,284 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Knott County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 486 (72 new cases, -11% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,270 (5,074 total cases)
— 0.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 453 (67 total deaths)
— 21.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.5% (7,182 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Jackson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 495 (66 new cases, +100% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,299 (4,705 total cases)
— 3.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 630 (84 total deaths)
— 69.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 37.4% (4,979 fully vaccinated)

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#12. Hopkins County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 510 (228 new cases, +36% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,099 (17,025 total cases)
— 11.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 582 (260 total deaths)
— 56.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.6% (23,498 fully vaccinated)

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#11. Bell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 515 (134 new cases, +46% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,773 (9,833 total cases)
— 10.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 618 (161 total deaths)
— 66.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.5% (12,104 fully vaccinated)

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#10. Letcher County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 552 (119 new cases, +11% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,598 (8,319 total cases)
— 13.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 580 (125 total deaths)
— 55.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.8% (11,586 fully vaccinated)

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#9. Martin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 563 (63 new cases, +75% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,220 (3,719 total cases)
— 2.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 438 (49 total deaths)
— 17.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.9% (6,148 fully vaccinated)

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#8. Knox County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 578 (180 new cases, +65% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 41,994 (13,079 total cases)
— 23.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 498 (155 total deaths)
— 33.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 37.2% (11,582 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Owsley County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 612 (27 new cases, +440% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,547 (1,746 total cases)
— 16.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 680 (30 total deaths)
— 82.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.2% (2,127 fully vaccinated)

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#6. Menifee County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 663 (43 new cases, +79% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,606 (1,986 total cases)
— 10.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 524 (34 total deaths)
— 40.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.1% (2,925 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Leslie County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 749 (74 new cases, -21% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 44,437 (4,389 total cases)
— 30.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 506 (50 total deaths)
— 36.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.0% (5,235 fully vaccinated)

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#4. Perry County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 827 (213 new cases, +14% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 50,990 (13,134 total cases)
— 49.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 738 (190 total deaths)
— 98.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.9% (16,200 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Wolfe County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 894 (64 new cases, +83% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 41,582 (2,976 total cases)
— 22.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 405 (29 total deaths)
— 8.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.5% (3,902 fully vaccinated)

Kybluegrass // Wikimedia Commons

#2. McCreary County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 992 (171 new cases, +6% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,729 (6,501 total cases)
— 10.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 487 (84 total deaths)
— 30.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.8% (6,851 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Harlan County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 1,038 (270 new cases, +96% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,146 (10,442 total cases)
— 17.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 830 (216 total deaths)
— 123.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.1% (12,246 fully vaccinated)