Governor Beshear says the current trend of fewer coronavirus cases and lower positivity rates indicate that a decline in spread is happening.
The governor says hospitalization rates are what he termed, “fairly stable.” Beshear reported 1268 new COVID-19 cases and a positivity rate just under ten percent Monday. Although virus conditions may be improving, the governor is not ready to ease existing restrictions. “We’re also not looking at easing capacity levels right now because again our numbers are overall too high, but the trend line we’re seeing in America and here is good, but again, it’s fragile. It is really fragile. We want to see those cases go down, and down, and down, and down,” said Beshear.
Governor Beshear reported 39 additional deaths. The governor also announced up to $38 million is available to local governments to help Kentuckians with overdue utility bills.
Governor Beshear said future state reporting on coronavirus vaccine will focus on numbers of people who get their initial shot and not on overall administration of injections. Beshear noted appointments will be needed at regional vaccination sites to reach targeted populations. The governor said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has contacted the state about a larger operation. “What both FEMA and our folks agree on is that we want one, but it’s got to come with its own extra supply of vaccine,” noted Beshear.
Governor Beshear has said repeatedly the state could handle a much larger amount of vaccine on a weekly basis.
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