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. 31 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 94.5 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 67.4% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 48.5% 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. 30, 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.

Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Nelson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 333 (154 new cases, -9% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,197 (16,735 total cases)
— 5.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 346 (160 total deaths)
— 7.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.1% (24,572 fully vaccinated)

w.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Henderson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 334 (151 new cases, +27% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,094 (15,866 total cases)
— 2.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 394 (178 total deaths)
— 5.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.6% (23,796 fully vaccinated)

Joel Bradshaw // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Ohio County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 338 (81 new cases, +14% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,292 (8,228 total cases)
— 0.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 442 (106 total deaths)
— 18.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.6% (9,733 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Allen County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 342 (73 new cases, +26% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,463 (7,559 total cases)
— 3.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 525 (112 total deaths)
— 40.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.2% (8,574 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Russell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 352 (63 new cases, +11% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,311 (7,225 total cases)
— 17.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 508 (91 total deaths)
— 36.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.6% (8,346 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Franklin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 353 (180 new cases, +10% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,117 (16,377 total cases)
— 6.6% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 322 (164 total deaths)
— 13.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.4% (31,816 fully vaccinated)

Hunter Hawley // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Breckinridge County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 361 (74 new cases, +21% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,827 (5,903 total cases)
— 16.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 415 (85 total deaths)
— 11.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (10,282 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Casey County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 365 (59 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,204 (4,719 total cases)
— 15.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 483 (78 total deaths)
— 29.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.9% (5,960 fully vaccinated)

OPMaster // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Warren County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 378 (503 new cases, +31% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,710 (48,786 total cases)
— 6.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 294 (391 total deaths)
— 21.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.4% (52,371 fully vaccinated)

Smceuen // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Carroll County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 386 (41 new cases, +37% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,196 (3,848 total cases)
— 5.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 480 (51 total deaths)
— 28.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.5% (5,046 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Floyd County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 388 (138 new cases, +5% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,796 (14,519 total cases)
— 18.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 646 (230 total deaths)
— 73.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.9% (20,592 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Clay County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 392 (78 new cases, +30% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 43,159 (8,589 total cases)
— 25.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 497 (99 total deaths)
— 33.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.5% (9,057 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Lawrence County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 398 (61 new cases, +5% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,185 (5,083 total cases)
— 3.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 496 (76 total deaths)
— 33.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.3% (7,545 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Montgomery County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 398 (112 new cases, +17% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,764 (10,070 total cases)
— 4.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 398 (112 total deaths)
— 6.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.6% (13,394 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Breathitt County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 435 (55 new cases, -2% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,318 (4,587 total cases)
— 5.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 443 (56 total deaths)
— 18.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.5% (6,751 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Nicholas County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 440 (32 new cases, +60% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,182 (2,412 total cases)
— 3.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 440 (32 total deaths)
— 18.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.7% (3,901 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Rowan County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 446 (109 new cases, +2% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,054 (8,085 total cases)
— 3.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 303 (74 total deaths)
— 18.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.1% (12,981 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Knott County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 446 (66 new cases, -13% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,749 (5,145 total cases)
— 1.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 453 (67 total deaths)
— 21.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.5% (7,186 fully vaccinated)

Ryan Emmick // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Hancock County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 447 (39 new cases, +56% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,504 (2,835 total cases)
— 5.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 310 (27 total deaths)
— 16.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.1% (5,246 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Woodford County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 449 (120 new cases, +50% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,185 (8,337 total cases)
— 9.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 202 (54 total deaths)
— 45.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.3% (17,981 fully vaccinated)

CoryClaxon // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Carter County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 459 (123 new cases, +31% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,404 (10,291 total cases)
— 11.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 418 (112 total deaths)
— 12.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.0% (13,396 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Bourbon County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 460 (91 new cases, +112% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,203 (6,966 total cases)
— 2.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 313 (62 total deaths)
— 16.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.1% (11,701 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Clinton County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 460 (47 new cases, +52% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,977 (4,187 total cases)
— 19.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 528 (54 total deaths)
— 41.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.9% (4,278 fully vaccinated)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Harrison County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 471 (89 new cases, +7% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,374 (7,625 total cases)
— 17.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 450 (85 total deaths)
— 20.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.8% (9,600 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Letcher County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 473 (102 new cases, -13% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,062 (8,419 total cases)
— 13.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 580 (125 total deaths)
— 55.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.8% (11,592 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Bell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 480 (125 new cases, -7% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,261 (9,960 total cases)
— 11.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 626 (163 total deaths)
— 67.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.5% (12,113 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Hardin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 497 (551 new cases, +28% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,084 (38,929 total cases)
— 2.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 415 (461 total deaths)
— 11.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.1% (73,305 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Owsley County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 498 (22 new cases, -21% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,091 (1,770 total cases)
— 16.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 680 (30 total deaths)
— 82.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.2% (2,127 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Menifee County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 509 (33 new cases, -23% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,114 (2,019 total cases)
— 9.5% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 524 (34 total deaths)
— 40.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.1% (2,927 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Leslie County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 516 (51 new cases, -31% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 44,953 (4,440 total cases)
— 30.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 516 (51 total deaths)
— 38.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.0% (5,237 fully vaccinated)

Megangen1990 // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Muhlenberg County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 523 (160 new cases, +47% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,374 (11,751 total cases)
— 11.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 418 (128 total deaths)
— 12.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.1% (15,943 fully vaccinated)

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

#19. Lincoln County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 546 (134 new cases, +63% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,557 (7,747 total cases)
— 8.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 566 (139 total deaths)
— 51.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.6% (10,211 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Adair County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 557 (107 new cases, +102% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,632 (6,842 total cases)
— 3.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 573 (110 total deaths)
— 53.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.9% (7,660 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Magoffin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 567 (69 new cases, +11% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,735 (4,589 total cases)
— 9.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 452 (55 total deaths)
— 21.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.7% (6,287 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Morgan County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 571 (76 new cases, +36% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 44,752 (5,956 total cases)
— 30.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 255 (34 total deaths)
— 31.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.8% (6,498 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Martin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 581 (65 new cases, +3% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,810 (3,785 total cases)
— 1.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 438 (49 total deaths)
— 17.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.9% (6,150 fully vaccinated)

HiB2Bornot2B // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Johnson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 581 (129 new cases, +74% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,361 (7,624 total cases)
— 0.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 581 (129 total deaths)
— 55.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (11,296 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Laurel County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 582 (354 new cases, +37% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,745 (23,562 total cases)
— 12.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 432 (263 total deaths)
— 15.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.0% (24,941 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Wayne County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 585 (119 new cases, +98% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,028 (6,919 total cases)
— 1.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 477 (97 total deaths)
— 27.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.0% (8,735 fully vaccinated)

Jim.henderson // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Hopkins County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 598 (267 new cases, +18% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,697 (17,292 total cases)
— 12.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 589 (263 total deaths)
— 57.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.6% (23,512 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Green County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 612 (67 new cases, +116% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,187 (4,178 total cases)
— 11.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 430 (47 total deaths)
— 15.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.2% (4,832 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Bath County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 632 (79 new cases, +39% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,832 (3,854 total cases)
— 10.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 392 (49 total deaths)
— 5.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.8% (6,851 fully vaccinated)

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

#8. Whitley County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 645 (234 new cases, +44% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 42,466 (15,400 total cases)
— 23.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 587 (213 total deaths)
— 57.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.2% (16,408 fully vaccinated)

verygreen // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Rockcastle County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 677 (113 new cases, +47% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,376 (5,739 total cases)
— 0.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 377 (63 total deaths)
— 1.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.1% (6,868 fully vaccinated)

Kybluegrass // Wikimedia Commons

#6. McCreary County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 737 (127 new cases, -26% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,477 (6,630 total cases)
— 11.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 493 (85 total deaths)
— 32.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.8% (6,855 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Knox County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 832 (259 new cases, +37% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 42,851 (13,346 total cases)
— 24.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 501 (156 total deaths)
— 34.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 37.2% (11,594 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Powell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 890 (110 new cases, +120% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 44,421 (5,490 total cases)
— 29.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 388 (48 total deaths)
— 4.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.6% (6,620 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Perry County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 920 (237 new cases, +12% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 51,902 (13,369 total cases)
— 50.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 738 (190 total deaths)
— 97.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.9% (16,207 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Wolfe County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 992 (71 new cases, +9% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 42,588 (3,048 total cases)
— 23.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 405 (29 total deaths)
— 8.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.5% (3,904 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Harlan County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 1,376 (358 new cases, +33% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 41,515 (10,798 total cases)
— 20.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 834 (217 total deaths)
— 123.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.1% (12,253 fully vaccinated)