Megangen1990 // 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 Nov. 8 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 97.7 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.5% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 8.4% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent 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 Nov. 3, 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. Elliott County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 80 (6 new cases, +50% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 43,435 (3,265 total cases)
— 20.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 293 (22 total deaths)
— 24.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.5% (2,745 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Boone County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 81 (108 new cases, +9% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,198 (44,346 total cases)
— 8.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 249 (333 total deaths)
— 35.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.2% (85,813 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#48. Henry County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 81 (13 new cases, -35% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,151 (5,991 total cases)
— 2.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 335 (54 total deaths)
— 13.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.9% (8,857 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Powell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 81 (10 new cases, -47% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 48,928 (6,047 total cases)
— 35.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 396 (49 total deaths)
— 2.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.0% (6,671 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Shelby County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 82 (40 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,796 (16,078 total cases)
— 9.3% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 363 (178 total deaths)
— 6.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.3% (23,666 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Woodford County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 82 (22 new cases, +29% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,209 (8,878 total cases)
— 8.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 217 (58 total deaths)
— 44.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.2% (18,244 fully vaccinated)

Turover // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Greenup County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 83 (29 new cases, +4% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 44,134 (15,490 total cases)
— 22.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 444 (156 total deaths)
— 14.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.0% (18,969 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Wayne County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 84 (17 new cases, +6% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,519 (7,832 total cases)
— 6.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 516 (105 total deaths)
— 33.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.5% (8,836 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Clay County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 85 (17 new cases, +143% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 46,962 (9,346 total cases)
— 29.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 518 (103 total deaths)
— 33.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.9% (9,139 fully vaccinated)

OPMaster // Wikimedia Commons

#41. Warren County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 86 (114 new cases, +1% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,480 (51,138 total cases)
— 6.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 304 (404 total deaths)
— 21.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.9% (52,969 fully vaccinated)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#40. Harrison County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 90 (17 new cases, +42% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 43,021 (8,125 total cases)
— 19.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 461 (87 total deaths)
— 18.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.3% (9,694 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Spencer County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 93 (18 new cases, -10% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,833 (6,547 total cases)
— 6.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 341 (66 total deaths)
— 12.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 31.0% (5,999 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Floyd County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 93 (33 new cases, -33% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 44,446 (15,818 total cases)
— 22.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 669 (238 total deaths)
— 72.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.2% (20,730 fully vaccinated)

HiB2Bornot2B // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Johnson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 95 (21 new cases, +62% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,809 (8,389 total cases)
— 4.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 595 (132 total deaths)
— 53.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.2% (11,367 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Lee County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 95 (7 new cases, +75% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 45,252 (3,350 total cases)
— 25.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 770 (57 total deaths)
— 98.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.8% (3,760 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#35. Nicholas County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 96 (7 new cases, +133% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,287 (2,565 total cases)
— 2.4% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 468 (34 total deaths)
— 20.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.0% (3,924 fully vaccinated)

Bedford // Wikimedia Commons

#34. Logan County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 96 (26 new cases, +62% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,178 (9,805 total cases)
— 0.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 491 (133 total deaths)
— 26.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.3% (14,182 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Knox County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 96 (30 new cases, +58% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 46,046 (14,341 total cases)
— 27.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 517 (161 total deaths)
— 33.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 37.5% (11,680 fully vaccinated)

Bfreas // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Simpson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 97 (18 new cases, -38% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,916 (6,856 total cases)
— 2.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 544 (101 total deaths)
— 40.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.1% (9,676 fully vaccinated)

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

#31. Whitley County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 97 (35 new cases, +106% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 45,309 (16,431 total cases)
— 25.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 620 (225 total deaths)
— 59.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.6% (16,527 fully vaccinated)

C. Bedford Crenshaw // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Lewis County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 98 (13 new cases, +30% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,881 (5,427 total cases)
— 13.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 678 (90 total deaths)
— 74.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.6% (5,385 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Clinton County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 98 (10 new cases, +400% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 43,834 (4,479 total cases)
— 21.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 558 (57 total deaths)
— 43.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.4% (4,329 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Franklin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 100 (51 new cases, +96% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,110 (17,393 total cases)
— 5.7% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 347 (177 total deaths)
— 10.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.2% (32,216 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Grant County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 100 (25 new cases, +4% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,970 (9,268 total cases)
— 2.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 275 (69 total deaths)
— 29.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.3% (12,610 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Mercer County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 100 (22 new cases, +38% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,350 (8,850 total cases)
— 11.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 524 (115 total deaths)
— 35.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.9% (12,262 fully vaccinated)

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

#25. Madison County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 101 (94 new cases, +57% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,168 (33,632 total cases)
— 0.0% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 326 (303 total deaths)
— 16.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.6% (46,094 fully vaccinated)

Murray State // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Calloway County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 108 (42 new cases, +75% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,915 (10,887 total cases)
— 22.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 259 (101 total deaths)
— 33.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.4% (18,491 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Barren County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 111 (49 new cases, +14% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,766 (15,826 total cases)
— 1.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 527 (233 total deaths)
— 35.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.4% (20,996 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Bath County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 112 (14 new cases, +40% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,696 (4,212 total cases)
— 6.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 416 (52 total deaths)
— 7.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.2% (6,898 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Gallatin County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 113 (10 new cases, -23% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,338 (2,602 total cases)
— 18.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 631 (56 total deaths)
— 62.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.0% (3,723 fully vaccinated)

w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Boyd County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 113 (53 new cases, -7% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 45,374 (21,198 total cases)
— 25.5% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 426 (199 total deaths)
— 9.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (23,757 fully vaccinated)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Washington County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 116 (14 new cases, +27% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,504 (4,778 total cases)
— 9.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 554 (67 total deaths)
— 42.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.4% (6,337 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Pike County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 116 (67 new cases, -3% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,625 (23,512 total cases)
— 12.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 612 (354 total deaths)
— 57.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.8% (31,138 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Letcher County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 116 (25 new cases, -7% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 43,502 (9,376 total cases)
— 20.3% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 617 (133 total deaths)
— 59.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.1% (11,654 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Perry County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 116 (30 new cases, -9% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 58,510 (15,071 total cases)
— 61.8% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 788 (203 total deaths)
— 103.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.4% (16,318 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Trimble County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 118 (10 new cases, +25% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,374 (2,573 total cases)
— 16.0% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 543 (46 total deaths)
— 39.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.2% (3,826 fully vaccinated)

Chris Watson // Wikicommons

#14. Jefferson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 122 (936 new cases, +17% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,471 (271,973 total cases)
— 1.9% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 335 (2,568 total deaths)
— 13.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.2% (507,905 fully vaccinated)

Smceuen // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Carroll County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 122 (13 new cases, +86% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,962 (4,142 total cases)
— 7.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 489 (52 total deaths)
— 26.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.9% (5,094 fully vaccinated)

Chris Light // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Nelson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 123 (57 new cases, +19% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,912 (17,990 total cases)
— 7.6% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 357 (165 total deaths)
— 8.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.6% (24,796 fully vaccinated)

CoryClaxon // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Carter County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 127 (34 new cases, -3% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 42,102 (11,282 total cases)
— 16.4% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 425 (114 total deaths)
— 9.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.4% (13,500 fully vaccinated)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Hart County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 131 (25 new cases, +127% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,696 (6,414 total cases)
— 6.8% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 573 (109 total deaths)
— 47.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.5% (6,954 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Leslie County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 132 (13 new cases, -19% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 49,499 (4,889 total cases)
— 36.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 567 (56 total deaths)
— 46.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.3% (5,266 fully vaccinated)

verygreen // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Rockcastle County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 162 (27 new cases, +23% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,574 (6,273 total cases)
— 3.9% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 389 (65 total deaths)
— 0.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.4% (6,916 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Cumberland County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 166 (11 new cases, +83% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,658 (2,623 total cases)
— 9.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 499 (33 total deaths)
— 28.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.0% (3,043 fully vaccinated)

Dcoetzee // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Trigg County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 171 (25 new cases, +56% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,192 (4,863 total cases)
— 8.2% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 321 (47 total deaths)
— 17.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.3% (7,077 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Metcalfe County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 179 (18 new cases, +200% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,949 (3,419 total cases)
— 6.1% less cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 745 (75 total deaths)
— 92.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.4% (4,173 fully vaccinated)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Russell County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 179 (32 new cases, +60% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 43,843 (7,858 total cases)
— 21.2% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 530 (95 total deaths)
— 36.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.0% (8,416 fully vaccinated)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Robertson County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 190 (4 new cases, +300% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,947 (821 total cases)
— 7.7% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 1,044 (22 total deaths)
— 169.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.4% (831 fully vaccinated)

Kybluegrass // Wikimedia Commons

#2. McCreary County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 197 (34 new cases, +240% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 42,702 (7,358 total cases)
— 18.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 505 (87 total deaths)
— 30.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.1% (6,906 fully vaccinated)

Megangen1990 // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Muhlenberg County, KY

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 261 (80 new cases, +158% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,886 (12,520 total cases)
— 13.1% more cases per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 431 (132 total deaths)
— 11.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Kentucky
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.6% (16,097 fully vaccinated)