Governor Andy Beshear said Wednesday that Kentucky is moving in the right direction but pandemic conditions remain dangerous given the new UK variant of COVID-19.
Kentucky reported 2,424 new cases Wednesday marking the fourth straight day of less than 3,000 new cases for the second time this month.
Kentucky’s case rate is nearly 6,000 more than last month. The state also reported 47 new deaths with January’s total of 890 fatalities linked to COVID-19 344 more than at this time last month.
Kentucky’s testing positivity rate was 9.3-percent, which is the ninth straight day of decline and the lowest since December 30.
Beshear said Kentucky will get a 16 to 17-percent increase in Moderna vaccine supplies. While he said that’s not enough, he called the increase a step in the right direction.
click to download audioBeshear said the state will now receive three weeks notice on how much vaccine supply is coming to the state each week. Right night, it’s one week.
click to download audioSome local leaders, including Trigg County Judge-executive Hollis Alexander, have expressed dissatisfaction of vaccines being distributed at regional centers instead of county to county. Beshear said the state is trying to distribute vaccines in an equitable manner.
click to download audioPublic Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said it’s normal for people who receive the vaccine to feel achy or tired and for your arm to be sore where you got the shot.
click to download audioStack says the new UK variant of COVID-19 is more contagious and if you are exposed to it, you’re more likely to get infected by it. He added it’s not more dangerous, but since more people can get it quickly, there could be more people get sick and that an increase in deaths always follows an increase in cases.
