LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This blog will be updated with the latest information from Kentucky officials on the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 vaccine efforts. Governor Andy Beshear will hold a briefing at 4 p.m. on Tuesday this week.
Saturday, May 29
Gov. Andy Beshear’s office is reporting an additional 383 new cases of COVID-19.
In Saturday’s report, the positivity rate is at 2.49%.
Six more virus-related deaths were reported including 18 from an audit.
Webster County in western Kentucky remains the only county in the Commonwealth in the red zone.
Officials also said 2,038,886 Kentuckians have at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Kentucky has administered more than 6.6 million COVID-19 tests.
Kentucky currently stands at 458,275 positive cases and 6,782 deaths.
Thursday, May 27
Kentucky has reported 421 new coronavirus cases and four more virus-related deaths.
Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday on social media that the new cases include 78 Kentuckians ages 18 or younger.
The governor said this week that the virus’s incidence rates are much higher among younger Kentuckians. He said that's “directly associated" with who has been vaccinated.
Inoculation rates have lagged among younger Kentuckians.
Meanwhile, the state’s virus-related restrictions will be eased again starting Friday, when capacity will be allowed at 75% for businesses and events in Kentucky.
The state’s coronavirus-related capacity restrictions will end on June 11.
Tuesday, May 25
Gov. Andy Beshear celebrated a milestone during his daily briefing. He says the state has crossed more than 2 million Kentuckians vaccinated. These Kentuckians have had at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccination.
It's also thanks in part to 12 to 15-year-old receiving vaccinations.
“When you look at this, it is just a miracle,” Gov. Beshear said. “Fifteen months after the first case of COVID-19 in Kentucky, not only do we have effective vaccines, but we have 2 million people vaccinated. It’s really exciting.”
Another 580 cases were confirmed and Beshear said this has been the lowest numbers of cases on a Tuesday seen in quite some time.
He said there have been three straight weeks of decline and the trend line is going down again.
Five deaths were reported including an audit death from November.
The state's positivity rate currently stands at 2.52%.
Only two counties remain in the red zone.
Beshear said loved ones can return to visit persons in correctional and juvenile facilities beginning on June 20.
However, there are guidelines visitors must follow.
To visit, you have to schedule in advance by visiting the Kentucky Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice's website starting June 4.
Two visitors are allowed at a time and you must show proof that you are fully vaccinated.
Beshear said this does not apply to county jails since they are not state run.
So far, 76% of persons housed in prisons have been vaccinated.
The state said the Department of Juvenile Justice is working to get permission to vaccinate those in their care.
Monday, May 24
Kentucky confirmed 263 new cases of COVID-19 and four more deaths on Monday.
The current test positivity rate is 2.61%.
So far, 1,989,841 Kentuckians have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Find out how you can get the COVID-19 vaccine here.
There have been 456,053 total cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky since the beginning of the pandemic.
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