Governor Beshear, along with legislative leaders Robert Stivers and David Osborne, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton, Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown, Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack, and First Lady Britainy Beshear all got vaccinated Tuesday.
The governor said it was partly to show bi-partisan support for protection against coronavirus. “This is safe. It is a Christmas miracle for us. I we got to make sure, especially with this new strand they see in the United Kingdom, that we get 70 maybe even 80% of Kentuckians and Americans vaccinated,” said Beshear.
The governor announced Tuesday 3057 new cases of COVID-19 and 28 additional deaths. The positivity rate fell slightly to 8.48%. Top counties with coronavirus cases were Jefferson, Warren, Madison, Fayette, Kenton, and Christian. Beshear was asked if the pandemic is producing more complications for those who have smoked. “I don’t think that there is any question that your body is in better shape to fight off COVID, if you are a non-smoker and listen smoking can kill you in a number of different ways. We as a state, whether it’s to fight off a pandemic, whether it’s just to improve our own health, or whether it’s to lessen the significant costs to the state and private sector treating those that develop lung cancer. We have to have fewer people smoking.”
Un-related to the pandemic, Governor Beshear announced the Brent-Spence bridge would re-open a day ahead of schedule. It re-opened Tuesday following six weeks of work. The crossing between Kentucky and Ohio was shut down following a fiery two truck collision on November 11th.
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