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, February 7
Cases of coronavirus have been declining for a fourth straight week as Gov. Andy Beshear reports 1,532 new cases and 31 deaths.
Deaths continue to increase in the Commonwealth. The weekly total of deaths associated with the virus is 306. Overall, 4,051 Kentuckians have died from the virus.
Jefferson County also reported 245 new cases – the county’s total now stands at 68,554 cases confirmed.
Beshear said the positivity rate has fallen under 8% to 7.97%.
An estimated 1,235 people are currently hospitalized, 290 in ICU and 140 have been placed on a ventilator.
More than 4.1 million COVID-19 tests have been administered in Kentucky.
Kentucky has confirmed 377,790 positive cases since tracking the pandemic began last year.
Saturday, February 6
Kentucky has confirmed more than 4,000 deaths since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year.
Gov. Andy Beshear’s office also reported 1,998 new cases on Saturday with the positivity rate dropping a bit to 8.07%. Officials noted in the report that 346 cases were found in the 18 and under demographic.
Jefferson County confirmed an additional 299 cases included in those numbers.
The state hit 4,020 deaths statewide with 49 of those deaths newly reported.
There are 1,294 people currently hospitalized, 318 in intensive care and 164 on a ventilator.
The overall total of reported positive coronavirus cases is 376,262.
Friday, February 5
Governor Beshear announced 2,261 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky and 50 more deaths. Kentucky has now recorded a total of 374,268 cases since March and 3971 deaths.
With the Super Bowl being this weekend, Beshear issued this reminder to Kentuckians:
“No matter who you’re rooting for on Sunday, let’s make sure we hold on to our progress against this virus as Team Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’ve already vaccinated 10% of our population and every day we get closer to the finish line we’ve all been waiting for. Hang in there and do what it takes to protect each other a little bit longer.”
You can find daily updates here.
Thursday, February 4
Governor Beshear announced 2,500 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky and 58 more deaths.
While today's report had the lowest number of new cases on a Thursday in over four weeks, the governor said, "We are still losing far too many. I hope this reminds everyone of how dangerous this is."
The state's test positivity rate is 8.37%, the lowest it has been since Dec. 28, 2020, and 104 Kentucky counties are in the red zone.
Governor Beshear announced four new regional vaccination sites across the state.
Kroger will operate two new sites at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington and Greenwood Mall in Bowling Green. Appointments at these sites will be available Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. EST.
Two more sites will also open through other providers - Murray State University CFSB Center and T.J. Health Pavillion in Glasgow.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack discussed local vaccination sites throughout the state. He said every district and county health department will get, for every county, doses equivalent to 1% of the population served. Doses will be provided on Feb 8, 12 and 22. Second doses will go out four weeks later. People in the 70 and older age group should be prioritized.
Stack also said some Walgreens stores and independent pharmacies in the state maybe be able to provide vaccinations as early as sometime next week through the federal pharmacy program.
Wednesday, February 3
Governor Beshear announced 2,592 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky and 51 more deaths.
The state's test positivity rate is 8.53%.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack urged Kentuckians to not hold large gatherings for the Superbowl. He said, just like the state's recommendations for other holidays and events, people should wear masks and stay at last 6 feet apart. He recommended no more than two households get together and to keep gatherings to eight people or fewer.
Sec. Michael Brown provided an update on COVID-19 cases in Kentucky's correctional facilities. There are currently 55 active staff cases and 270 active inmate cases. In total, 929 staff and 6,8884 inmates have been infected.
As more Kentucky teachers are vaccinated, the governor said the state plans to give an update on in-person learning next week. Per the CDC, density control, masking, proper ventilation and community mitigation will be taken into consideration for in-person learning.
"One size can't fit all," Governor Beshear said. "Different districts have different challenges."
The governor said "we need to be more intentional on equity" and the state will be transparent on how they will address it when they receive data next week. He said they will examine things like intention and vaccine hesitancy.
Tuesday, February 2
Kentucky confirmed 2,443 new cases of COVID-19 and 32 more deaths.
“Here in Kentucky and across the county we are seeing case numbers declining and we want to continue to see that trend,” Gov. Beshear said in a release. “Unfortunately, we also continue to see far more deaths than we’d like to."
The state's test positivity rate is 8.83%.The governor noted this is the fifth straight day Kentucky's positivity rate has been under 9%.
Gov. Beshear announced Kentucky's vaccine supply by an additional 5% thanks to the federal COVID-19 team.
"Again, our challenge is supply, supply, supply. Remember, we will get a vaccine to everybody, it’s just going to take some time," Gov. Beshear said.
Monday, February 1
4:45 p.m.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell has tested positive for COVID-19.
Officials with his office said O’Connell was tested Sunday after he experienced mild flu-like symptoms. He is following CDC guidelines and will work from home for the next 10 to 14 days.
O’Connell is also working with health officials to trace those with whom he has been in close contact.
Officials said O’Connell had not received the vaccination yet.
4:30 p.m.
Gov. Andy Beshear has extended the mask mandate for another 30 days as 1,623 new COVID-19 cases were announced Monday.
He said to lift the mandate now as vaccinations are getting underway would leave Kentuckians vulnerable.
Beshear also announced that weekly cases are trending downward and moving in the right direction. However, ICU numbers are also declining but are much higher than they were in the summer.
Four regions in the state remain in the red zone due to ICU capacity. There are 1,314 currently hospitalized, 337 in the ICU and 178 on a ventilator.
Jefferson County also reported 284 new cases of the virus.
The positivity rate remains at 8.85%.
Thirty-five deaths were reported statewide with 9 out of Jefferson County with the youngest being a 45-year-old woman.
More schools around the Commonwealth are being affected by the virus. The governor said 1,330 students and 563 staff members tested positive for the virus.
There were also 6,886 students and 911 staff quarantined for the firs time.
Eighteen high school sports teams were also quarantined.
Vaccine update
In total, 422,500 initial vaccine doses have been sent to Kentucky and 362,271 have been administered: 341,575 initial doses have been sent to the state’s distribution program and 305,757 have been administered through that program; 80,925 initial doses have been sent to Kentucky through the federal long-term care vaccination program that contracts with CVS and Walgreens and 56,514 have been administered through that program.
Kentucky Vaccine plan
The vaccination rollout has been underway for weeks at area hospitals and drive-through sites like Louisville's Broadbent Arena location.
At Broadbent starting this week, workers will give out some of its vaccine supply as booster shots. Those will go to the first couple of thousand people who came through on week one. That will also take place on top of workers at the arena still trying to get Jefferson County Public Schools teachers through the lines as well.
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