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 15, 2021. Beshear will hold press conferences Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 28
Officials have reported an addition 361 new cases of COVID-19 and 8 deaths.
Kentucky's positivity rate currently stands at 2.88%
Hospitalizations continue to trend downward with 381 reported, 96 currently in intensive care and 39 on a ventilator.
Overall, Kentucky has reported 425,024 positive cases and 6,031 deaths associated with the virus.
Saturday, March 27
Gov. Andy Beshear has announced an additional 637 cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky. One hundred of those cases were found in those 18-years-old and younger.
He said there were 15 new deaths associated with the virus bringing the overall total to 6,023.
The positivity rate is 2.80%
Hospitalizations continue to fall with 400 reported with 92 in intensive care and 46 on a ventilator.
Kentucky has reported 424,666 positive cases of the virus since tracking began more than a year ago.
Friday, March 26
Governor Beshear announced the state's positivity rate has declined again to 2.8%, down from 2.85% Wednesday.
On Monday, all Kentuckians 40 and older will become eligible for three highly effective COVID-19 vaccines, in addition to all individuals in Phase 1A, 1B and 1C.
“More than one in three Kentucky adults have been vaccinated so far, which is a huge milestone,” Gov. Beshear said. “Together, we can defeat COVID-19 this year, but we have to keep up our momentum.”
Beshear confirmed 646 new cases of COVID-19 and 27 new deaths.
Thursday,March 25
Governor Andy Beshear announced Kentuckians 40 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination beginning Monday, March 29. Phases 1A, 1B and 1C will still be able to receive the vaccine, along with the newly eligible Phase 2.
About 1.25 million Kentuckians have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine so far. Leaders encouraged eligible Kentuckians to get the vaccine at one of the state's 573 sites. To help Kentuckians find open vaccine appointments, the state has added a new feature to the vaccination site map which lists current openings.
The governor announced 726 new cases of COVID-19 and 19 more deaths. The current test positivity rate is 2.92% and there are seven counties in the red zone.
Zero new cases were reported in Kentucky long-term care residents today. Four new staff cases were reported, along with 3 more deaths. About 90% of long-term care residents have been vaccinated and about half of the staff members have been vaccinated.
As some states announce plans to lift their mask mandates, Beshear said he plans to renew the mask mandate in Kentucky.
Wednesday, March 24
Governor Beshear announced the state's positivity rate has declined again to 2.85%, down from 2.93% Monday.
Additionally, All Kentuckians 50 and older became eligible Monday for three highly effective COVID-19 vaccines. By April 12, all Kentuckians 16 and older will be eligible to sign up for vaccination appointments.
“Every day, as more Kentuckians are vaccinated, we get closer to our goal of defeating COVID-19,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’re not just going to meet the president’s goal that every American adult will be able to sign up for vaccination appointments by May 1, we’re going to beat that goal by more than two weeks at least.”
Beshear confirmed 695 new cases of COVID-19 and 24 new deaths.
Tuesday, March 23
6:45 p.m.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 893 new cases of COVID-19 and 11 more deaths in Kentucky. The state's test positivity rate is 2.93%.
The governor also announced Kentucky broke another record with 198,447 more people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine last week.
Beshear said the Kentucky Dam Village Convention Center is one of several vaccination sites with open appointments.
“This is a new site we stood up in Western Kentucky to ensure the area was getting significant amounts of vaccine,” Beshear said in a release. “As of today, they have more than 2,000 available appointments in this coming week. That means any Kentuckian, aged 50 and up, if you’re in that area, we need you to sign up.”
The governor said he will announce sites with extra vaccine appointments on social media to help get the word to Kentuckians who may not be aware.
Kentucky is expected to receive more than 142,000 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government next week.
Monday, March 22
4 p.m.
Gov. Andy Beshear has confirmed 294 new cases of COVID-19, down about 100 cases from last Monday he said.
Beshear credits the tenth straight week of declining cases.
He said there were 11 deaths -- all not March deaths, but are from the audit.
Kentucky currently has a 2.93% positivity rate.
The governor said hospitalizations, intensive care stays and those on ventilators are all down as well.
He also shared good news from the long-term care facilities and skilled nursing homes.
Beshear said deaths are dramatically increasing thanks to vaccination efforts.
He only reported 2 new positive cases among residents and 1 new death.
However, Gov. Beshear is reminding people who want to visit loved ones in those facilities to get vaccinated.
“Our long-term care facilities and our skilled nursing homes were some of the hardest-hit communities during this pandemic, not only with cases and deaths, but with the separation from loved ones for over a year,” said Gov. Beshear. “The vaccine has changed everything for long-term care, but this progress depends on us. As these facilities reopen their doors, they need us, everybody else in Kentucky, to sign up for the vaccine.”
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Kentucky has opened Phase 1C eligibility to anyone 50 and older starting Monday. Gov. Beshear said he expects all Kentuckians 16 and older to be eligible for a vaccine by April 12 and receiver their first dose by the end of May.
The state has continued to see a decline in COVID-19 cases, with Kentucky's positivity rate going below 3% for the first time since July 2020.
Louisville health officials reported the lowest weekly deaths since the summer of 2020. At least 209,000 people have received at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Jefferson County.
To find a vaccination appointment, click here.
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