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The latest federal risk map says most of Kentucky has a low risk of Covid-19 transmission, with only eight counties at high risk and just three others moving into a higher risk category from last week.

Counties that remain at high risk, shown in orange on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention risk map, are Johnson, Magoffin, Floyd, Knott, Letcher, Perry, Leslie, and Owsley.

Adjoining Morgan, Elliott, and Rowan counties moved to medium risk of transmission, shown in yellow, from a low risk, shown in green.

The CDC showed three fewer counties in the high-risk category than last week. It rated 37 counties at medium risk, 14 fewer than the week before, and 75 at low risk, up by 17.

In high-risk counties, the CDC continues to recommend  that you wear a well-fitting mask in public indoor spaces, and if you are at high risk of getting very sick, consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed.

If you live in a medium or high-risk county, the CDC advises those who are at high risk of getting very sick to wear a well-fitting mask when indoors and in public and to consider getting tested before having social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick and consider wearing a mask when indoors when you are with them.

The CDC also has a transmission levels map that shows the level of virus spread in each county at one of four levels. This map shows Todd and Lewis counties with low transmission levels and 22 counties with moderate levels. The rest have either substantial or high levels of transmission.

This data is largely used by researchers and healthcare facilities, but it also shows why Kentucky’s infection rate continues to be one of the highest in the nation, ranking fifth on Oct. 6,  according to The New York Times.

State officials say Kentuckians should use the risk map, which is based on new coronavirus cases, hospital admissions, and hospital capacity, to guide their preventive measures.