After a steady decline in the number of new cases and total current/active cases of COVID-19 in Clinton County over the past several weeks, the trend took a disturbing turn in the other direction in the past seven days.

According to the Lake Cumberland District Health Department, in the past week of reporting to the area media and the public, Clinton County’s cases have increased nearly two-fold, as of the last reporting date.

As of Tuesday morning, Clinton County had 61 current or active cases of COVID-19 among its residents, compared to just 34 active cases the week before.

Likewise, the upward trend of new cases in the past week also saw a higher number of new cases being reported during the most recent seven day reporting period that included last Tuesday through this past Monday.

During that time, 66 new cases were reported, with the highest day being last Tuesday, September 21, when 20 new cases were reported.

At that time, Clinton County had 45 active cases. The number of current/active cases hit a high mark during the past week on Friday, when the LCDHD reported there were 65 cases among local residents.

Clinton County’s caseload of COVID-19 patients had experienced a steady downward trend over the previous three week reporting period.

Clinton County recorded its all time record high number of active cases during the entire pandemic just a month ago when on Tuesday, August 31, the LCDHD reported 159 cases here.

As of Tuesday morning, there were no patients from Clinton County being treated in area hospitals.

That number is down from last week’s final daily report, when three patients from Clinton County were reportedly being treated in hospitals.

The agency also reported no new deaths of Clinton County patients during the past seven day reporting period.

During the pandemic, Clinton County has had 33 residents who have died as a result of COVID-19.

As for the vaccination rate in Clinton County, that number rose only just slightly from the last reporting date last week, up from 37.56 percent of those residents who are eligible to receive the vaccine, to 37.99 percent as of Tuesday morning.

That number puts Clinton County still far behind the rest of the 10 county LCDHD area, and still in the eighth lowest ranking in the region, just ahead of Adair (37.71) and Casey (35.29) counties.

The district is led in vaccination rate by Taylor, with a 52.42 percent vaccination rate.

Kentucky, as a whole, is reported to be 60 percent vaccinated, still behind what is being reported by some agencies for the entire nation, which is said to be as high as 70 percent.

Vaccinations against the virus are now readily available at several locations in Albany.

Vaccination appointments through The Med Center at Albany are available, and those vaccines are now being given on site at the local hospital.

Appointments for getting the vaccine may be obtained by texting SHOT to 606-387-3646 or by emailing AlbanyVaccine@mchealth.net, or by calling 606-387-3646 and leaving a message.

Vaccines are also now available again at the Clinton County Health Department.

Vaccination appointments through the Clinton County Health Department, or more information about the vaccines being offered and the vaccination dates and times, may be obtained by calling 606-387-5711.

Vaccines are also available at most Albany pharmacies and those seeking a vaccine are urged to call your favorite pharmacy for information.

In addition to Clinton County’s current 61 cases, numbers across the 10 county LCDHD district, along with the number of patients being treated in area hospitals in parentheses, if any, were: Adair 102 (4), Casey 32 (6), Cumberland 16 (2), Green 85 (8), McCreary 86 (3), Pulaski 117 (10), Russell 117 (2), Taylor 151 (3), Wayne 170 (7).