New COVID-19 cases, deaths and positivity rate all continue to decline in Kentucky
Nearing the end of what looks to be Kentucky’s ninth-straight week of declining COVID-19 cases, Gov. Andy Beshear announced 963 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday and 29 additional virus-related deaths.
The rate of Kentuckians testing positive fell to 3.88 percent, down from 3.95 percent on Thursday. Since March 9, the positivity rate has hovered below 4 percent.
“The number of new cases, deaths and the positivity rate all continue to decline,” the governor said in a written update. He called this trajectory “encouraging,” but warned against complacency. The state has confirmed a total of 415,091 cases and 4,950 deaths attributable to the virus.
Beginning on Monday, indoor visitation is allowed to resume at remaining Medicaid-certified long-term care facilities in Kentucky, Beshear announced earlier this week, restoring a freedom many residents have been without for almost a year. Visitors, like residents, are encouraged to be fully immunized, or at the very least, receive a negative coronavirus test 72 hours before arriving. On Friday, two additional residents and seven facility staff tested positive, bringing the total number of combined active cases to 247.
At least 938,959 people statewide have received the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Close to 28,600 people got their first dose in the last day.
Next week, people 16 and older in Kentucky with medical conditions that “might” place them at risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list, will become eligible for a coronavirus vaccine in priority group 1C. Health conditions added to the eligibility list include people with cystic or pulmonary fibrosis, hypertension and Type 1 diabetes, among others.
This week in K-12 schools, at least 258 students and 38 staff tested positive for coronavirus, and 1,252 students and 87 staff were in quarantine from exposure.
Statewide, there are 520 people hospitalized with the virus (three fewer than were reportedly hospitalized on Thursday), 125 in intensive care (11 fewer) and 88 on a ventilator (13 more).
This story was originally published March 12, 2021 at 4:38 PM.
