McCracken is one of eight KY counties to report 100+ positive CoV-2 cases 12-1-20

“There’s no way to sugarcoat it. Today is the very worst day we have had for reporting on the spread of the coronavirus and it is the deadliest day that we have had,” said Gov. Beshear.

Monday, December 1 there were 4,151 new cases reported, 35 deaths, positivity rating of 9.59%, 1,943 total deaths, 1,777 current hospitalizations, 441 in ICU, and 241 on a ventilator. 

The Governor said, “This is exponential growth. If we don’t all do our part, if we try to be the exception, then slowing down this thing won’t work and we will lose a lot more Kentuckians we love and care about.”

These staggering numbers are keeping the majority of Kentucky counties in the red zone. The counties with the highest number of new positive COVID-19 cases consist of eight counties with more than 100 cases. McCracken County is one of the eight. 

Mark Carter, policy adviser for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said that the staff of 1,600 contact tracers have completed 215,000 daily check-ins with COVID-19 positive Kentuckians and have identified another 47, 000 as those potentially exposed to the virus. 

Carter said unfortunately with some success comes some setbacks. The  tracers need cooperation from the general public. When a contact tracer calls, answer the phone, wear your masks, social distance, get tested.  Carter said, "We simply haven’t had enough participation from the public and the resulting surge has overwhelmed contact tracing capacity."

The Governor announced that the Kentucky Department for Local Government is releasing an additional $50 million in CARES Act funding to reimburse city and county governments for expenses related to COVID-19. Approximately 200 cities and counties are eligible because they have already exhausted their original allotment and have remaining eligible reimbursements.

To apply, eligible local governments will follow the Department for Local Government’s original application process, which is outlined on its website.
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Beshear updated Kentuckians on the latest vaccine distribution information. He said there's a draft Kentucky vaccination plan that will include planning phases, critical populations, and vaccine provider enrollment and administration. A communication plan is underway to provide families with more intel on the vaccines.  

For more information on today's COVID-19 update, click on this link: kentucky.gov