Governor Andy Beshear gave another report on the pandemic in Kentucky during his weekly Team Kentucky update.
He reiterated that getting more people vaccinated is the only way to bring the Commonwealth out of the surge in cases of COVID-19, saying local leadership and the private sector will have to play a role in overcoming vaccine hesitancy.
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack lauded leaders in the private health sector in Kentucky who are taking steps to require their employees to be vaccinated. Stack and Governor Beshear believe the private sector will play a large role in coercing folks to get the vaccine who otherwise may not.
Dr. Stack noted the rapid increase in Kentucky’s ICU census due to COVID, with a growing number of those patients young people.
Baptist Health, which operates a hospital in Madisonville, is among the health care providers requiring their employees to be vaccinated. Governor Beshear says they will be offering an incentive to state employees as an encouragement to get the vaccine—whether they get the shot now or got it previously, they will receive a full day of paid leave.