Beshear says low case and death numbers in nursing homes show vaccines work; calls Texas governor’s relaxations ‘reckless’
White House Coronavirus Task Force graph (click on it to enlarge) shows testing and the rate of positive tests in Kentucky have both generally declined over the last two months. Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday that expectations for testing need to be adjusted, but random testing may be an option.
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The state issues such updates frequently. (Click to enlarge) |
He attributed the numbers to the vaccination program that prioritized long-term care. “These numbers are so much lower than we are used to,” he said.
Beshear slide promotes state’s vaccine website. |
As several news agencies reported on challenges Kentuckians reported as they tried to sign up for a shot, often blaming their lack of success on the lack of a centralized system, Beshear said the state does offer a “one-stop-shop” to help Kentuckians find their nearest vaccine sites, as well as transportation to reach a site, at vaccine.ky.gov or by calling 855-598-2246.
In addition to seeing what phase you’re in, the site also lets you supply your contact information “so we can communicate with you when appointments become available at new and existing sites across the state,” said Beshear.
He said, “Randomized testing across the state is structurally a challenge. We certainly want to get as much good information as we can so we can consider any of those options. We are seeing a national decline in testing. Kentucky’s decline is less than many. . . . I know the White House is pushing back against it, wants more people tested. And we do need more people tested. We also need to recognize that folks who have just gotten over Covid aren’t going to go get tested at the same rate, and folks that have gotten vaccinated, while they’ll get tested, aren’t going to get tested at the same rate.
- Today’s 19 fatalities were a Boyle County woman, 88; a Floyd County woman, 73; a Grayson County woman, 71; a Grayson County man, 75; three Jefferson County woman, 69, 71 and 73; two Jefferson County men, 72 and 79; a Kenton County woman, 96; a Laurel County woman, 74; two Laurel County men, 54 and 69; two Madison County women, 76 and 77; a Madison County man, 66; a Rockcastle County man, 67; a Simpson County woman, 68; and a Simpson County man, 53.
- Counties with 10 or more new cases were Jefferson, 164; Fayette, 77; Kenton, 56; Boone, 45; Hardin, 36; Madison, 30; Scott, 28; Pike, 25; Warren, 24; Johnson, 22; Daviess, 21; Taylor, 20; Pulaski, 19; Calloway, 18; Marshall, 17; Campbell, Oldham and Whitley, 16; Clay and Grant, 15; Knox, Laurel and Simpson, 14; Barren and Jessamine, 12; Bullitt, 11; and Christian, Graves and McCracken, 10.
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Hospital numbers kept trending down, with 684 people hospitalized with Covid-19 (down 35 from Monday); 178 in intensive care (down 2); and 82 of those on ventilators (unchanged).
- Gil Corsey of Louisville’s WDRB reports on the frustrations of trying to sign up for a vaccine in Kentucky with no centralized system.
- ProPublica reports inequity “gets built in” to vaccination systems.
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A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientist says the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be used as a substitute for the second dose of another vaccine if a person has had an allergic reaction to the first round, CNBC reports.
- The American Dental Association says Kentucky is one of at least 20 states that now allow dental providers to administer the coronavirus vaccine, WKYT reports.