Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported 1,211 new cases of COVID-19 during the last live update of the week Thursday.
That puts the overall total of cases in the state at 414,131 and the positivity rate is at 3.95 percent, which stayed fairly steady from the day before. Governor Beshear said a significant number of those new cases come from facilities in the Department of Corrections.
Governor Beshear announced that long-term care facilities are moving forward with a safety plan, thanks to a partnership with the Trilogy Foundation that will create screening devices that will allow more visitation opportunities to open up.
Indoor visitation will also begin opening up in federal facilities that have yet to start letting people visit—they are encouraging those who wish to visit to get vaccinated, but health screenings will take place before people can come in, and a negative COVID-19 test would be expected. Those visits are set to begin on March 15.
Thirty-seven more Kentuckians have died due to COVID-19, putting the death toll at 4,921.
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack says they are making adjustments to phase 1C of the COVID vaccination rollout plan, including expanding the number of health conditions that are eligible, but doing away with individuals who smoke.
Regional unemployment offices are set to open all over the state, including in Hopkinsville, to hopefully get continuing unemployment insurance issues addressed.
The Tennessee Department of Health reported 1,512 new cases there, along with 17 new deaths, bringing the death toll in the Volunteer State up to 11,623.