Kentucky positivity rate nearly 12% as the White House claims U.S. has its own variant strain of CoV-2

Governor Andy Beshear shared a COVID-19 warning from the White House today regarding the escalation of COVID-19 cases. In the update, the Governor said that the rate of seriousness over previous surges is twice as concerning as it has been since the pandemic started. The White House believes the U.S. has a variant strain of coronavirus that has evolved within our country that is 50% more transmissible than the original CoV-2. The White House may be calling for aggressive mitigation for a more aggressive virus. 

The cause of the fourth surge in Kentucky and throughout the U.S. is believed to be the result of holiday gatherings. Beshear said that before the holidays, the third surge in Kentucky was beginning to see a decline in cases and that’s no longer the case. He urged Kentuckians to get tested if they had been around anybody over the holidays that doesn’t live in their household.

To date, Kentucky has vaccinated 107,799 people. Just over the last three days, 47,000 doses of the 107K were administered. As it stands, Kentucky receives 53,000 doses of the vaccines each week to be administered. Dr. Stack said this will be the number received at least through February. Once vaccines arrive at their destination, the goal for distribution is to have 90% of all vaccines received administered within seven days. 

There’s been some concern over vaccination hesitancy within the long-term care population. Beshear is encouraging the healthcare population and those that are in the Phase 1A group to get vaccinated and show others that it’s safe. To televise that they’re taking the virus. It’s a vaccination that’s 95% effective.

Kentucky’s ranking among other states in the country regarding COVID-19 statistics:

As it stands, Kentucky is ranked 29th across the country in the rate of increase in positive COVID-19 cases. It’s ranked 41st in the number of new deaths and 19th in the country for increased positivity rate. 

Friday, January 8:
Positive COVID-19 cases is 4,750 with 296,167 overall
Positivity rate is 11.93%
1,748  are hospitalized
393 ICU
217 on ventilators
There were 13 new deaths reported and three were from Marshall County.
​To date, there have been 2,856 deaths and over 2,000 were from long-term care facilities.

Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of Kentucky's Department of Public Health hopes to start vaccinating those 70 and older (Phase 1B) over the next several weeks.