Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear continues to urge people to get the COVID-19 vaccine as cases continue to climb in the state.
In a press briefing Monday, the governor says they’ve seen multiple signs in the data of exponential growth in the virus, particularly in the spike in the positivity rate, which is now at 9.77 percent—it was below two percent in June.
Governor Beshear says the difference between now and when the pandemic first began is at that time no one was sure how to stop the spread, resulting in drastic measures—he says the best way to fight it now is to get vaccinated.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services will be implementing new universal masking in all state-run healthcare facilities, including in veterans care facilities. In addition, following the recommendation of the Long-Term Care Task Force, the cabinet will require all contractors and state employees working in these state-operated facilities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 1, unless there is a religious or medical reason they cannot be vaccinated. If any of the staff in these facilities is unvaccinated, they will be tested at least twice weekly
There were 1,052 new COVID-19 cases reported Monday, along with five new deaths, putting the state death toll at 7,348. There are now 74 ‘red’ counties on the state incidence rate map, including Todd, Hopkins, Muhlenberg and Logan counties, while Christian is ‘orange’ and Trigg County is listed as ‘yellow’.
Approximately 2.3 million Kentuckians have now received at least one dose of a vaccine.