Kentucky will receive another boost to its weekly COVID-19 vaccine supply and Governor Andy Beshear is recommending that school districts either begin offering or consider expanding in-person learning offerings next month.
The governor announced 1,497 new cases and 16 deaths Tuesday, with one of the fatalities a 60-year old woman from Muhlenberg County.
He says the federal government has promised another 10,000 vaccines to Kentucky in addition to the weekly allotment the state has already been receiving.
Just under 600,000 Kentuckians have already been vaccinated.
The positivity rate fell again to 6.3 percent, the lowest it’s been since November 4.
All but six school systems in Kentucky are already offering some form of in-person instruction and the governor says those who aren’t should consider doing so by March 1 or seven days after educators receive their second vaccine dose and districts that have in-person learning should consider expanding it.
Beshear is discontinuing school guidance based on colors on the COVID incidence rate map, but says that map should still be referenced when making decisions on extra-curricular activities to avoid bringing community spread of the virus into schools.
Mask and social distancing requirements will remain in place at all schools and hybrid plans may be deemed still necessary in buildings where necessary spacing isn’t possible in certain districts.