Governor Beshear said doctors and nurses are reporting Kentuckians are coming to hospitals sicker than those who received treatment earlier in the pandemic.
During his briefing Thursday, the governor said that’s meant some patients have died very quickly. State Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack said the Delta variant probably sticks to cells better, as well as being easily spread. “When the governor is announcing over 60 deaths in a day. There’s no lag here. It’s just people who have died in the last three weeks. This is not like we’re just building up a system and trying to catch up. These are people who are getting sick and dying fast,” said Stack.
Dr. Stack said whether the original coronavirus, the current variant, or a future variant, they all demonstrate the infection is “really bad.” The state’s public health point person noted people in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s are dying that never would have passed away, if they had been vaccinated.
The month of September marks the beginning of the fall football season for many collegiate programs, including a number in Kentucky. While outdoors and with fewer overall fans in the stands compared to pre-pandemic days, Governor Beshear suggested masking in those game situations. “And I get that it’s outside, but with that many people, that close together, I would just suggest to each person, for your personal safety and those at home, to put on that mask when you are in the seats surrounded by that many folks,” explained Beshear.
Beshear said at midday Thursday there were 93 total intensive care beds left across Kentucky. The governor said 25 kids were hospitalized and later he reported 62 COVID deaths.
