During his 4 p.m. update on Thursday, Dec. 17, Gov. Beshear reported 3,349 new cases of COVID-19. This bring’s Kentucky’s total cases to 234,021, with 190,277 of those cases being lab confirmed and 43,744 are probable.

Fifty-four new deaths were reported Thursday. Those reported lost to the virus include two men, ages 67 and 72, from Bullitt County; a 94-year-old woman from Calloway County; an 83-year-old woman from Carroll County; a 47-year-old man from Casey County; an 81-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man from Christian County; a 97-year-old woman and an 82-year-old man from Clinton County; a 76-year-old man from Daviess County; a 92-year-old woman from Fayette County; an 88-year-old woman from Graves County; two women, ages 63 and 68, from Grayson County; an 85-year-old woman from Hardin County; a 94-year-old man from Henderson County; a 65-year-old woman and two men, ages 64 and 98, from Hopkins County; two women, ages 82 and 97, and two men, ages 47 and 87, from Jefferson County; an 85-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man from Jessamine County; a 77-year-old man from Johnson County; a 66-year-old man from Kenton County; a 75-year-old woman and a 79-year-old man from Knott County; a 75-year-old man from Larue County; an 88-year-old woman from Logan County; four women, ages 76, 85, 90 and 99, and two men, ages 77 and 89, from Madison County; two men, ages 83 and 87, from Mason County; an 88-year-old woman from McLean County; a 76-year-old man from Monroe County; an 81-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man from Muhlenberg County; a 61-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man from Nelson County; three men, ages 75, 86 and 95, from Oldham County; two men, ages 70 and 87, from Robertson County; a 63-year-old man from Russell County; a 92-year-old woman from Spencer County; a 73-year-old woman from Union County; and a 58-year-old woman from Washington County.

This makes a total of 2,316 Kentuckians lost to the virus; though 133 of those are probable and only 2,521 are lab confirmed.

A total of 3,207,769 COVID-19 test have been administered in Kentucky. 2,968,844 were PCR 99,173 were serology test, and 139,752 were antigen test. The positivity rate currently stands at 8.45%.

Currently 1,817 Kentuckians are hospitalized due COVID-19 related symptoms. With 431 in the ICU and 254 on a ventilator.

Top counties with the most positive cases on Thursday were: Jefferson, Kenton, Boone, Fayette, Campbell, Pulaski and Hardin. Each of these counties reported 100 or more new cases; Jefferson County alone reported 475.

On a positve note, at least 33,666 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.