KENTUCKY, USA — This is a weekly blog with daily updates on COVID-19 numbers, COVID vaccine and other related content across Kentucky for the week of March 15, 2021. Beshear will hold press conferences Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 21
Kentucky continues to be on the right track when it comes to defeating COVID-19.
Gov. Andy Beshear shared good news Sunday as he said the state has seen ten consecutive weeks of decline in COVID-19 cases.
The governor reported 316 new cases of the virus and 18 deaths.
The other good news is Beshear reported a positivity rate 2.97% positivity rate, not seen since July 3, 2020.
Kentucky is also having a great week for vaccinations according to Beshear. He said so far during this weekly reporting period, about 139,530 first shots of hope with a few more days of reporting to go.
So far 1.175 million Kentuckians have been vaccinated and 34% of those 18 years and older have been partially vaccinated.
Overall, Kentucky has reported 420,838 cases and 5,738 death associated with COVID-19.
Saturday, March 20
Officials with Gov. Andy Beshear's office is reporting 644 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky.
Jefferson County accounted for 107 of those new cases.
Twenty-five more people have died from the virus.
The positivity rate remains at 3%.
Currently hospitalized: 457
Currently in ICU: 111
Currently on ventilator: 65
Kentucky has reported 420,512 cases and 5,720 deaths overall from the virus.
Friday, March 19
Governor Beshear's office is reporting 731 new positive cases, 25 new deaths. Kentucky's positivity rate is at 3.40%. The state says 5,695 Kentuckians have died from virus-related illnesses since the pandemic began in March 2020.
“With now more than 1 million Kentuckians being vaccinated, our shot of hope has proven to be our shot of certainty for ending this pandemic,” Gov. Beshear said. “We still need everyone to continue to mask up, practice social distancing, wash your hands and get vaccinated when it’s your turn.”
Currently hospitalized: 463
Currently in ICU: 101
Currently on ventilator: 60
Top counties with the most positive cases today are: Jefferson, Fayette, Daviess and Hardin. Each county reported at least 23 new cases. Jefferson County reported 135 new cases, according to the Governor's office.
Thursday, March 18
Governor Andy Beshear announced that all Kentuckians age 16 and up will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by April 12.
The governor expects by the end of May every Kentuckian 16 and older, who wants to have the vaccine, will have received their first dose. The governor did concede that he expects that vaccination appointments for those 16 and older will not all be open immediately April 12.
For now, Kentucky is opening vaccinations for individuals in Phase 1C to 50 and older beginning March 22. Appointment sign-ups for those individuals can be made through vaccine providers.
Beshear confirmed 785 new cases of COVID-19 and 31 new deaths. The state's positivity rate stands at 3.23%, the lowest it's been since July 3, 2020.
Citing the declining positivity rate, Beshear is extending serving hours at restaurants and bars. Restaurants and bars can now serve until midnight and have doors close at the businesses at 1 a.m.
For vaccination updates, Beshear said over 1.2 million Kentuckians have now received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Additionally, three new sites are coming to the Commonwealth including two in Louisville.
Cardinal Stadium will serve as the state's largest vaccination site beginning April 8. The University of Louisville (UofL) football stadium is holding the site in the Purple lot at the stadium with 24 lanes of drive thru vaccinations taking place. Beshear expects the site can give over 4k vaccinations a day.
UofL Health will now serve as the state's largest partner in vaccine distribution.
Norton Healthcare and Humana are partnering for a new site in the Shawnee neighborhood. The site at Whitney Young Elementary will be open for appointments April 1 for residents in West Louisville. Beshear expects the site can give over 2k vaccinations a week.
Wednesday, March 17
The state's positivity rate continues to decrease. Gov. Andy Beshear announced Kentucky's rate has hit 3.73%.
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Kentucky reported 963 new cases and 27 deaths. Jefferson and Hardin County both reported at least 35 new cases.
“While our new cases have decreased dramatically since their peak in the commonwealth, these numbers are still too high,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are close to the finish line but we can’t let up yet.”
Tuesday, March 16
The fight continues in beating COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced another 819 cases, the lowest number of daily cases on a Tuesday in a month.
The state's positivity rate slightly fell to 3.87%
There are 24 more people who have lost their lives to the virus including an 83-year-old Jefferson County man.
Jefferson County also confirmed 139 new positive COVID-19 cases.
New outbreaks
Officials also discussed two new outbreaks in the Commonwealth.
The first outbreak occurred in an undisclosed nursing facility in eastern Kentucky. Dr. Steven Stack said it is a new variant of the virus but could not specifically give details about it just yet. He said the "situation is still unfolding."
However he said 85% of residents and 48% of staff were vaccinated.
Stack said it appears that an unvaccinated person brought COVID-19 into the nursing facility.
Of the 41 people affected, 27 are residents and 14 of them are health care workers. He said 30% of those vaccinated were asymptomatic and 83% of the unvaccinated have been symptomatic.
Stack said 5 people have been hospitalized.
J. Michael Brown, secretary of the Executive Cabinet, also announced outbreaks at the Kentucky State Penitentiary and the Western Kentucky correctional facility.
Brown said 11 of the 14 correctional facilities in the state have no active cases but all 14 will be set up as vaccination sites.
He said they will be set up with the Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine. A timetable when it's taking place is unclear but Brown said it depends on the supply.
Kentucky has confirmed 417,412 positive cases and 5,029 deaths a year after the pandemic.
Monday, March 15
4:25 p.m.
For a 9th straight week, Kentucky continues to see a decline in COVID-19 cases.
Gov. Andy Beshear has announced 396 new cases including 91 cases in Jefferson County.
The positivity rate remains at 3.99%.
There are 23 more people who have been lost to the virus bringing the statewide total to the grim milestone of 5,005 Kentuckians who have died from the virus. This also includes six people from Jefferson County -- three women, ages 70, 85, and 86 and two men, ages 78 and 83.
The state is now down to 8 counties remaining the red zone.
Hospitalizations are also down -- 464 currently being treated, 114 in intensive care and 67 on a ventilator.
Gov. Beshear did say there was an area of concern -- state correctional facilities. He said there appears to be an apparent outbreak at two facilities. J. Michael Brown, secretary of the Executive Cabinet, is scheduled to elaborate more on that Tuesday, the governor said.
Vaccinations
Kentucky continues to make progress in getting Kentuckians their first dose vaccinations.
The governor said there are now 567 vaccination sites statewide and more are expected.
He believes the state will reach President Biden's vaccination goal in getting every Kentuckian vaccinated by May 1.
About 142,000 people have received their first shot during this current weekly period with one day to go.
Child Care
The governor also gave an update for child care facilities as many licensed programs were allowed to return to regular group sizes.
- There are some changes outlined in the new guidelines.
- Classrooms must still stay in groups and not mix groups of children throughout the day.
- All other health and safety precautions established in the emergency regulations are still in place.
- Kentucky is in compliance with CDC and Prevention guidelines.
- All child care providers are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccination
- Visitor restrictions remain in place, but the emergency regulation is altered to allow a Child Development Associate credential candidate and a professor to participate in the final observation for CDA credential.
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Governor Andy Beshear said Kentucky could open vaccinations to all adults before May 1. The governor said he believes everyone who wants a vaccine will have a chance to get it by May 31.
In Louisville, vaccinations have opened up to the rest of Phase 1C after first prioritizing those age 60 and up.
As of Sunday, Kentucky confirmed a total of 416,215 COVID-19 cases and 4,982 deaths since the pandemic began.
With 445 new cases reported on Sunday, the governor said the state has shown a decline for nine straight weeks.
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