HEALTH
19 cases are on the rise. What Kentuckians should know
Katie WisemanMary Walrath-HoldridgeUSA TODAY NETWORK
Sept. 2, 2026, 6:50 a.m. ET
Don’t let this heat wave fool you. Cold, flu and COVID-19 season is just around the corner, and COVID-19 cases are already reportedly on the rise
COVID activity was still categorized overall as “very low” nationwide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Aug. 28, though cases are consistently increasing. This is likely the result of what has come to be known as the “summer surge,” a pattern that doctors have observed each year since around 2022
Unlike other respiratory illnesses such as the flu, COVID-19 tends to flare not only during the typical winter cold and flu season, but also toward the end of summer
Experts previously told USA TODAY that this is likely caused by multiple factors, including behavioral and environmental changes (the amount of time spent cooped up in AC, going back to school, etc.), as well as the virus’ life cycle and how our immunity to it waxes and wanes
Here’s what Kentuckians should know
COVID-19 symptoms
The following list does not include all possible symptoms as symptoms may change with new COVID-19 variants and can vary depending on vaccination status. Possible symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If someone is showing any of the following signs, call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19. Emergency warning signs for COVID-19 include:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Depending on skin tone, lips, nail beds and skin may appear pale, gray, or blue.
How to prevent the spread of COVID-19
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) recommends the following actions to protect yourself and others:
- Stay up to date with vaccines.
- Stay home, if sick.
- Wash hands often.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Consider wearing a mask if you are high-risk for serious illness.
When you have a respiratory virus infection, you can spread it to others. How long someone can spread the virus depends on different factors, including how sick they are (severity), underlying medical conditions (such as having a weakened immune system), and how long their illness lasts (duration). This is not the same for everyone
The best thing you can do to prevent the spread is to stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause
The CDC also recommends considering other additional prevention tools, such as taking steps for cleaner air, practicing good hygiene, physical distancing and wearing a well-fitted mask when you’re home sick to protect others in your home
COVID-19 vaccination recommendations
“Team Kentucky encourages everyone six months and older to consider COVID-19 vaccination each fall, before respiratory disease season begins,” said Beth Fisher, deputy director of public affairs for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family, in an email to The Courier Journal
Respiratory disease season is when there are the most cases of COVID-19, flu, and RSV. The season typically begins in October and peaks in late winter. Fisher said updated COVID-19 vaccines should be available in local pharmacies and clinics later this month.
The CDC recommends the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 6 months and older based on individual-based decision making. This includes people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, people who have had COVID-19 and people with long COVID
- Getting the 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccine is especially important if you:
- Never received a COVID-19 vaccine
- Are ages 65 years and older
- Are at high risk for severe COVID-19
- Are living in a long-term care facility
- Are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or might become pregnant in the future.
- Want to lower your risk of getting Long COVID
According to the CDC getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer, more reliable way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19
Check the Kentucky dashboard weekly for updated information
Each week, the Kentucky Department for Public Health publishes the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, flu and RSV on the Kentucky Respiratory Disease Dashboard, CoverYourCough.ky.gov
It is important to note the counts do not include the number of people who tested positive with an at-home COVID-19 test, only how many Kentuckians test positive through health care providers
This dashboard also shows the number of emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19, flu, or RSV
