Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear gave a live update on COVID-19 in the state for the first time in the New Year Monday afternoon.
Governor Beshear says they’ve seen jumps in both the positivity rate and those who are needing hospital care due to COVID-19, and they’re watching the data closely to see where those numbers will go in the coming weeks. He says there is a concern that numbers could spike due to holiday celebrations.
He says the positivity rate—which was reported at 11.02 percent Monday, the highest it has ever been—could be due to more people who are symptomatic going to get tested than before.
There were 2,913 new COVID-19 cases, putting the overall total of cases in the Commonwealth at 279,143—there were 26 new deaths, putting the death toll at 2,749.
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack says he knows he sounds like a broken record, but he once again urged people to do those well-known health guidelines until the majority of people get the vaccine.
He says he knows people are starting to get impatient for the chance to get their own vaccine, and he pleaded for patience—he says it will take some time to work through the recommended phases of those in most need.
The Tennessee Department of Health is reporting 3,953 new cases of COVID-19, along with 143 new deaths—the death toll in the Volunteer State is at 7,168.