Kentucky saw a tough COVID-19 report Thursday with a high number of deaths, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear gave an update on vaccine rollout.
The governor reported 4,084 new cases—which is actually down compared to previous weeks— and the positivity rate saw a slight increase to 12.34 percent. He also reported 51 new deaths, saying any deaths that are happening now were avoidable, and it shows how important a smooth vaccine rollout for the health of the people of the Commonwealth.
The death toll is now at 3,042 with that new count, what Governor Beshear calls a ‘grim milestone’. The governor says the state is partnering with Kroger to work to get more COVID-19 vaccines out at a higher rate, all the way down into the 1C phase in the near future.
He has appointed former Lexington Mayor and current Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray to serve as Director of Vaccine Distribution going forward. Gray says it will start with ‘regional vaccine sites’, set to expand to more locations throughout the state.
Around 172,530 vaccines have been administered so far in the state. The Tennessee Department of Health reported 4,983 new cases there, along with 84 new deaths.