LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This blog is updated daily with the latest information on COVID vaccine plans and coronavirus updates from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and health officials. Beshear will hold press conferences Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 7
Gov. Andy Beshear says the state's COVID-19 cases have been on a decline for an eighth consecutive week.
Another 526 positive cases and 13 deaths were reported.
The positivity rate went up slightly from 4% to 4.12%.
Jefferson County reported another 106 cases bringing the countywide total to 73,919.
Just one day after Kentucky marked one year since the first COVID-19 cases were reported, 410,709 cases and 4,819 deaths have been recorded statewide.
Saturday, March 6
Kentucky added another 840 positive cases of COVID-19, according to Gov. Beshear's office.
The state sits at a solid 4% positivity rate.
Fifty-two deaths were reported, bringing the overall total loss to the virus to 4,806.
As of Friday, 17 counties remain in red zones.
Jefferson County reported 171 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the county's overall total to 73,813 cases reported.
In a year since the first COVID-19 case was reported, Kentucky has confirmed 410,184 cases.
Friday, March 5
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported 920 new cases of COVID-19.
The state's positivity rate continues to fall, currently at 4.25%. Beshear reported 22 new deaths in the Commonwealth.
“Team Kentucky should be so proud of the progress we’ve made against this virus,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’ve got to keep up our commitment to each other until we reach the finish line – on COVID-19, and in recovering from other emergencies our state has experienced, like the ice storm and record flooding we’ve seen in recent weeks. No matter the challenge, our people come together to get through it.”
Thursday, March 4
In a brief, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported 1068 new COVID-19 cases.
The state's positivity rate currently stands at 4.45%, which is the lowest mark seen since October 12, 2020. The governor also noted that hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are down as well.
Beshear reported 22 new deaths due to the virus and remarked that it was one of larger death total days that state has seen in the last week.
More than 769,000 Kentuckians have received their first dose of the vaccine and over 60,000 have been vaccinated since the beginning of the month.
Additionally, the governor announced new 157 new vaccination locations coming to the Commonwealth. That brings the total of sites available to 576.
Those 157 new sites include one new regional site at Baptist Health La Grange, 10 Kroger sites, 10 Walmart sites and 136 Federal Pharmacy Program sites.
Wednesday, March 3
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported 1,175 new cases of COVID-19.
The state's positivity rate continues to fall, currently at 4.6%. Beshear reported 33 new deaths in the Commonwealth.
Beshear also announced more than 731,000 Kentuckians have now had at least the first dose of one of the effective COVID-19 vaccines.
“These numbers continue a good trend that we see on declining case numbers. Even better, our positivity rate is now 4.60% as it continues to decline,” said Gov. Beshear. “But let’s remember as we work toward defeating this virus, we can’t quit. Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced he now believes there will be sufficient supply for every adult in America to get vaccinated by the end of May. That’s really good news and moves up the timeline.”
Tuesday, March 2
Gov. Andy Beshear reported 1,080 new cases of COVID-19, the lowest number of daily cases reported on a Tuesday.
The positivity rate continues to fall, currently at 4.76%.
The governor also reported 19 new deaths, five being from Jefferson County that include three women ages 69,71, and 73 -- two men ages 72 and 79.
Out of the states 120 counties, only 19 remain in red zones. Jefferson County has fallen to the orange zone.
Jefferson County reported 164 new cases of the virus bringing the county's total to 73,250.
Kentucky has reported 406,201 positive cases and 4,671 deaths since tracking the virus began nearly a year ago.
About 47,787 people have recovered from the virus according to state data.
Gov. Beshear also noted that 711,559 Kentuckians have receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Monday, March 1
4:40 p.m.
Gov. Andy Beshear called Monday's COVID-19 report "the most optimistic report" he's going to give you.
The governor reported seven consecutive weeks of a decline in positive cases after the state experienced three major waves of the virus.
He reported 509 new cases, a low number of daily cases not seen since Sept. 28, and 15 deaths.
For the first time in five months, the state has dropped below a 5% positivity rate. It currently stands at 4.84%
Statewide, the Beshear administration says hospitalizations are down. Monday, the governor reported 719 hospitalized, 180 in intensive care and 82 on a ventilator.
Kentucky has reported 405,126 positive cases and 4,652 deaths associated with the virus overall.
Vaccinations
The governor shared his excitement with the upcoming doses of the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
"It's one more tool to defeat this virus and save lives," he said.
Beshear says with the new vaccines coming, 36,000 more people will be vaccinated over the next 7 days. More than 130 independent pharmacies will receive the one-dose vaccines.
Initial shipments of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine arrived in Kentucky after it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration Saturday. UPS Worldport in Louisville will distribute the vaccine doses across the country, like it has with the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna
On Monday, COVID-19 vaccinations for phase 1C opened statewide. Phase 1C includes anyone age 60+, anyone 16 or older with the highest risk conditions and all essential workers. This is the largest vaccination group in the state so far, and officials have urged Kentuckians to have patience as they work to get to everyone who wants to be vaccinated. The city of Louisville is currently prioritizing those in phase 1C who are age 60+.
RELATED: Phase 1C: COVID-19 vaccine appointments for Louisville residents 60+ available starting March 1
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.