Governor Andy Beshear and Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack took the time Monday afternoon to talk about COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the Commonwealth.
Beshear said he’s not happy about the pace at which the vaccine is being distributed.
Out of about 174,000 vaccines received by long-term care facilities and health care workers, 60,414 people have received a vaccine.
Dr. Stack added they are currently in the 1A phase of distribution, including long-term care facilities and health care personnel. The next phase, 1B, includes first responders, essential workers, anyone 70 or older, and K-12 school personnel. That phase is expected to begin across the state later this month or early next month.
Stack said the goal is to administer 90% of all vaccines received within seven days of arrival.
While the number of new COVID-19 cases in the state through the first four days of the month is tracking less than December, the number of people hospitalized with the virus and those in the ICU are about the same.
The state reported 2,319 new cases Monday and has reported 9,773 in the first four days of the year compared to over 15,000 in the first four days of December.
The state has also reported 87 deaths in four days of January compared to 131 in December.
However, the state’s positivity rate hit 11.1-percent for the first time Sunday and remained there Monday.
Beshear says there has been an increase in the positivity rate, which could be attributed to gatherings and testing sites closed for the holidays.
Kentucky’s hospitalization total of 1,737 is 110 more than New Year’s Eve, while the 456 people in the ICU with the virus is the second-most.
