During his 4 p.m. update on Monday, Dec. 21, Gov. Beshear reported 1,988 new cases of COVID-19. This bring’s Kentucky’s total cases to 244,297, with 197,968 of those cases being lab confirmed and 46,329 are probable.

Fifteen new deaths were reported Monday. Those reported lost to the virus include an 87-year-old man from Bullitt County; a 75-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man from Caldwell County; a 72-year-old woman from Clark County; a 68-year-old man from Fayette County; an 83-year-old woman from Hopkins County; an 82-year-old woman from Jefferson County; a 61-year-old woman from Johnson County; two women, ages 76 and 92, from Livingston County; an 88-year-old woman from Muhlenberg County; a 92-year-old woman from Ohio County; an 87-year-old woman and an 88-year-old man from Owsley County; and a 61-year-old woman from Webster County.

This makes a total of 2,412 Kentuckians lost to the virus; though 146 of those are probable and only 2,266 are lab confirmed.

A total of 3,276,375 COVID-19 test have been administered in Kentucky. The positivity rate currently stands at 8.64%.

Currently 1,580 Kentuckians are hospitalized due COVID-19 related symptoms. With 411 in the ICU and 231 on a ventilator.

Top counties with the most positive cases Monday were: Jefferson, Fayette, Kenton and Boone. Each of these counties reported 80 or more new cases; Jefferson County alone reported 376.

On a positve note, at least 34,704 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.