‘Take care of yourselves.’ Ky. reports new records for coronavirus cases, positivity rate.

As the Omicron variant continues to surge in Kentucky, the state once has again broken its previous records for highest positivity rate and most new cases in a day.

Kentucky reported 16,130 new cases of COVID-19 Friday. The positivity rate was 32.1 percent, up from the previous record of 31.37 percent set Thursday.

Twenty-eight more deaths as a result of coronavirus were reported.

As of Friday, 2,347 Kentuckians were hospitalized with the virus, up 49 from the day before. Of those, 439 were in intensive care units (five more than Thursday) and 268 were on ventilators (three fewer than Thursday).

“Folks, take care of yourselves,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a short video shared on social media. “New studies today absolutely prove that being vaccinated and boosted protects you from getting real sick from Omicron. And certainly wear the mask.”

Beshear said Thursday that it is hoped that Kentucky’s current surge in cases could be “within a couple of weeks of peaking.”

Kentucky COVID Tracker: Explore up-to-date interactives on cases, hospitalizations, more