Kentucky recorded its highest one day number for COVID-19 related deaths Thursday with 58. Governor Beshear said the high death count comes three to four weeks after high daily case numbers.
The governor noted it’s difficult to say when vaccinations will help in lowering loss of life tied to coronavirus. “That’s going to happen, but we don’t have specific modeling yet because it’s a brand new virus, a brand new vaccine, and long term care is just being vaccinated now,” said Beshear.
Beshear said the biggest challenge currently in the fight against the pandemic is obtaining sufficient vaccine. He said a big worry is if supply levels stay where they are now and administration of injections increases, vaccinators will be waiting for days for vaccine.?
Kentuckians across the Commonwealth are being asked to check their internet speed and report it to state officials. Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman announced the broadband enhancement effort during the briefing. Coleman said the first step is to gather data about current internet service. “Once we have enough data from step one, step two involves building a map all the way across Kentucky with our strongest and weakest points of connection. Using that map, step three is going to involve leveraging partners, both public and private, to provide broadband coverage in areas that need it,” explained Coleman.
Coleman noted the number of K-12 students without broadband access has gone from 10 to 15% several months ago to now about two percent. But, she added more effort is needed to address the remaining two percent.
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