FRANKFORT, Ky. — 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 8, 2021. Beshear will hold press conferences Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m.
Sunday March, 14
Kentucky continues to progress in its fight against COVID-19.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 445 new cases of the virus as the state continues to show a decline for the 9th straight week.
Jefferson County also reported 75 new cases.
The good news continues for the state as the governor said Kentucky is on track to hit one million vaccinations on Monday.
So far, 995,784 people have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
There were 16 more deaths – the state is inching closer to 5,000 people who were lost to the virus.
Kentucky has confirmed 416,215 cases and 4,982 deaths since the pandemic began a year ago.
Saturday, March 13
The positivity rate continues to remain below 4% as Gov. Andy Beshear announced another 679 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky.
Jefferson County also reported 104 new cases.
The state will also hit another unwanted milestone soon – 5,000 deaths. Sixteen more deaths were reported bringing the current total 4,966.
Kentucky has reported 415,770 positive cases of COVID-19 one year into the pandemic.
Friday, March 12
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 963 new COVID-19 cases and 29 deaths.
The state's hospitalizations, ICU and ventilator numbers remain low. Additionally, the state's positivity rate stands at 3.88%.
“The number of new cases, deaths and the positivity rate all continue to decline,” Beshear said. “While this is encouraging, we need to remain committed to the public health measures that have helped Kentucky curb the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths that would have otherwise occurred.”
Thursday, March 11
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 1,211 new COVID-19 cases and 37 deaths. Of the 1,211 new cases, 213 came from Kentucky correctional facilities.
The state's hospitalizations, ICU and ventilator numbers remain low, though the positivity rate rose slightly to 3.95%.
Over 910,353 Kentuckians have received their first dose of the vaccine, with Beshear saying the state expects to hit 1 million within the next few days.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack also announced more conditions to be included in Phase 1C eligibility. Any adult with conditions the CDC says might put them at an increased risk for severe illness will join Phase 1C March 15.
The full list of conditions included can be found here.
Wednesday, March 10
Kentucky's positivity rate continues to decline, with Gov. Andy Beshear announcing the state's rate around 3.93%.
Beshear announced 1,010 new COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths. In total, 4,884 Kentuckians have died of the virus. Jefferson County continues to report the most positive cases and deaths.
Tuesday, March 9
Kentucky continues to make progress in the fight against COVID-19.
Gov. Andy Beshear revealed during his media briefing Tuesday that the state set a record of 127,110 Kentuckians vaccinated breaking the previous record of 112,428 vaccinations the previous week.
“We are really ramping up to meet the moment and we are going to achieve this goal the President set of having a vaccine available for any Kentucky adult who wants one by the end of May,” said Gov. Beshear.
The governor also announced another 880 cases of the virus statewide.
However, the positivity rate continues to dip. He reported 3.94%, a number that hasn’t been seen since late September.
Twenty-one more people have lost their lives to the virus including four people from Jefferson County (three women ages 62, 89, 98 and a 60-year-old man).
Jefferson County had 165 more cases of the virus.
Hospitalizations are down, according to the governor.
Currently 551 Kentuckians are hospitalized, 147 in intensive care and 81 are on a ventilator.
Kentucky has reported 411,917 cases and 4,850 deaths a year after the virus began showing up in the state.
Monday, March 8
4:45 p.m.
This week marks a year since the first coronavirus cases began showing up in the Commonwealth.
During his media briefing, Governor Andy Beshear has announced 331 new cases -- a daily total not seen since Sept. 14, 2020. Jefferson County also reported 62 new cases.
Ten new deaths were confirmed which include two Jefferson County men ages 82 and 83.
Those hospitalized from the virus are down, according to the governor. He said about 539 are in the hospital with 161 in intensive care and 82 placed on a ventilator.
The state's positivity rate is currently at 4.06%.
Vaccine update
Gov. Beshear says 25% of Kentucky's adult population have been vaccinated; 834,130 Kentuckians he said.
The state is still catching up from the vaccine delays experienced during the snow storm. From Tuesday of last week to today -- 113,811 have been vaccinated with one more day in the period to go.
Kentucky has reported 411,040 cases and 4,829 deaths while Jefferson County has reported 75,200 cases and 946 deaths since the pandemic began a year ago.
Monday, the CDC announced that fully-vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing. The recommendations also say that vaccinated people can come together in the same way with people considered at low-risk for severe diseases, such as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says the state is planning a permanent monument for its COVID-19 victims. Beshear made the announcement Saturday during a ceremony to remember COVID victims on the one year of the first positive case in the commonwealth.
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