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New state COVID-19 cases appear to be hitting a plateau after weeks of decline

In News, State by OC Monitor Staff

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Today, Gov. Andy Beshear said new COVID-19 cases in Kentucky appear to be hitting a plateau, after declining for seven weeks in a row. 

“The top line here is it does look like we’ve plateaued. That’s not a reason to think that there is another surge,” said Gov. Beshear. “It looks like we have plateaued on the positivity rate at about 5.5%. We are still at a very serious level.”

In Kentucky, children make up 25%-30% of all new COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe for this age group. During the Pfizer vaccine clinical trials, there were no serious side effects among any of the study participants. The vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 for this age group.

The following Kentucky organizations have come together to recommend and encourage COVID-19 vaccination for all children age 5 and older: the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the Kentucky Primary Care Association, the Kentucky Medical Association, Kentucky Voices for Health, the Kentucky Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Kentucky Hospital Association, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Kentucky Nurses Association.

Beshear encouraged parents and caregivers for this age group to talk to their health care provider or pharmacist about scheduling their child’s COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

In addition, all eligible vaccinated Kentucky adults can now get any of the three COVID-19 vaccination boosters: Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. To learn more, see the full release.

COVID-19 Case Information, Vaccinations Update

Number of people who have received at least one vaccine dose in Kentucky: 2,611,059

Number of people who have received a vaccination booster in Kentucky: 425,401

Nov. 13, Cases: 1,561
Nov. 13, Deaths: 45
Nov. 14, Cases: 747
Nov. 14, Deaths: 11

New Cases Today: 726
New Deaths: 10
Today’s Positivity Rate: 5.73%
Current Hospitalizations: 719
Current Intensive Care Admittances: 191
Currently on Ventilators: 105

During the week ending Nov. 14, 9,506 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Kentucky, and the average test positivity rate was 5.65%.

Beshear said Europe is becoming COVID-19’s epicenter again, accounting for half of the latest infections and deaths, emphasizing the need to stay vigilant as Kentucky’s case numbers plateau.

Memorial Ceremony for More Than 10,000 Kentuckians Lost to COVID-19

Yesterday, Beshear held a memorial ceremony for more than 10,200 Kentuckians lost to COVID-19. First Lady Britainy Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, religious leaders, health care heroes, the Lindsey Wilson College Singers and the Kentucky State Police Honor Guard also took part in the service.

“When we look back on our fight against this virus, we’re going to look at what we were doing and how hard we were fighting the whole time, not just at the beginning,” said Gov. Beshear. “And that’s why we need everybody, collectively as a commonwealth, to do the things now that we know can help protect us, like getting vaccinated, getting your booster if you’re eligible and getting your kids vaccinated.”

During yesterday’s ceremony, Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky-native Amanda Matthews, artist and chief executive officer of Lexington-based Prometheus Foundry, has been commissioned to create the permanent Team Kentucky COVID-19 Memorial, which will be located in Monument Park on the Kentucky State Capitol grounds.

A COVID-19 Memorial Advisory Panel, which included health care heroes, family members and loved ones of those lost and COVID-19 survivors, selected the final design for the memorial.

To learn more, see the full release.

Gov. Beshear, Congressman Rogers Award More Than $9 Million in Grants to Support Economic Development Projects in Eastern Kentucky

Today, Gov. Beshear and U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced $9.18 million in Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program funds for economic development projects in 10 Eastern Kentucky counties. To learn more, see the full release.

“When completed, these projects will help support local communities and spur economic growth in Martin, Letcher, Floyd, Leslie, Knox, Knott, Owsley, Boyd, Pike and Perry counties,” said Gov. Beshear. “This program has a proven record of creating jobs in Eastern Kentucky, and these grants are another solid building block to help us build a better Kentucky for all of our families.”

Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Impacts in Kentucky

Gov. Beshear celebrated President Joe Biden signing the bipartisan federal infrastructure bill into law, which includes multibillion-dollar investments in Kentucky.

“The bipartisan infrastructure bill is going to be transformational for this commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “It’s going to help us build the infrastructure we need to ensure an economy that is on fire doesn’t just continue for three years, but for the next thirty years.”

In addition to American Rescue Plan Act funding, under the bipartisan infrastructure bill, Kentucky will receive:

  • More than $4.7 billion over five years to repair roads and bridges and create high-quality, well-paying jobs for Kentucky families;
  • $647 million to improve water infrastructure;
  • $100 million to provide high-speed internet coverage across the state, and 1.4 million Kentuckians (33%) will also be eligible to apply for the “Affordable Connectivity Fund” to expand access to high-speed, affordable internet;
  • $391 million over five years in public transportation funding;
  • $204 million over five years to improve airports;
  • $69 million to expand the state’s electric vehicle charging network;
  • $19 million to protect against wildfires;
  • $18 million to protect against cyberattacks; and
  • Benefits from a $3.5 billion national investment in weatherization, which will reduce energy costs for families and small businesses nationwide.