In his last live update of the week, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported 1,068 new cases of COVID-19, along with 28 new deaths.
Those numbers puts the overall total of COVID-19 cases in the state at 408,440, and the positivity rate 4.45 percent, the lowest since October 12. Hospitalizations are down, along with the number of people in the ICU—Governor Beshear says the percentage of deaths that come from long-term care facilities has gone down as well.
He says he does not intend to follow others in the lifting of all restrictions, continuing with the slow reopening plan help keep people healthy and safe.
Kentucky administered approximately 45,000 vaccines within two days—he announced new vaccination site locations, including federally qualified health centers in Todd, Muhlenberg and Logan counties. The first of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine allocations have been making their way across the state to sites, before distribution from the company ramps up significantly in the coming weeks.
The Tennessee Department of Health reported 1,514 new cases, along with 42 new deaths—the positivity rate in the Volunteer State is down to 4.67 percent.