FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – Governor Andy Beshear has provided an update on COVID-19 issues.
The governor says a COVID-19 outbreak has been reported at a nursing home in eastern Kentucky. 41 cases were reported, including five residents admitted to the hospital. Dr. Steven Stack says that 30% of individuals who are vaccinated are symptomatic and 83% of those who are not vaccinated. He says the vaccination has reduced the symptomatic disease. One of the five residents in the hospital was vaccinated.
According to them, it appears to be a different variant than the tribe of the United Kingdom, Brazil or South Africa. Dr. Stack says this is the same group they are researching. The name of the facility in eastern Kentucky where this new variant was detected is currently unavailable. The governor says they are identifying the facility and getting a better handle on the situation.
Governor Beshear on Tuesday reported 819 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the state to 417,412 cases. The governor says the state sees a positive rate of 3.87 percent. As of Tuesday, new cases are 122 in children 18 years or younger.
24 COVID-19 deaths were reported on Tuesday bringing the state to 5,029.
As of Tuesday, 459 people are being admitted to hospital for COVID-19 reasons, 110 in the ICU and 59 in ventilators. At least 48,802 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
Government Beshear also says Kentucky is monitoring the situation of an Ebola outbreak in two African countries. He says 11 Kentuckians have been to one of the two states. However, they do not believe that there is a significant risk of spread here. But they are watching.
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