FRANKFORT, Ky. — Today, Gov. Andy Beshear updated Kentuckians on the COVID-19 omicron variant and the storms affecting Western, South Central and Eastern Kentucky on New Year’s Day.
On Dec. 30, 6,441 cases were reported in Kentucky, the highest ever in a single day. The previous highest number was 5,742 cases reported Jan. 6, 2021. Today’s test positivity rate, 20.72%, is the highest ever.
“The most important thing for everyone to hear today is that omicron has not only come to the commonwealth, it has hit us harder, in terms of escalation of cases, than anything we have seen to date,” said Beshear. “We have gone from the plateau to the second-highest week of reported cases since the start of the pandemic.”
During the week ending Jan. 2, Kentucky reported 29,955 new COVID-19 cases and an average positivity rate of 20.38%. This is twice the number of cases as were reported the week prior (15,255). This is also the second-highest week of reported cases since the start of the pandemic, surpassed only by the week of Aug. 30, 2021, during the delta variant wave.
“The omicron variant is spreading rapidly. Omicron spreads so easily, it is compared to measles, the most contagious human virus on the planet,” said Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health. “Hospitalization numbers are also increasing, though not yet as rapidly as cases, but health care resources are stretched very thin due to both the increased number of COVID patients in hospitals coupled with an even more strained health care workforce due to workers who are themselves out sick with COVID.”
Due to the volume of COVID-19 cases and the speed at which the omicron variant is spreading, individuals who test positive should self-isolate, notify their close contacts and contact their health care provider if symptoms worsen or if they need to seek medical care.
KDPH has revised the guidelines for the general public in light of the changes presented by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week allowing for shortened isolation and quarantine under certain circumstances. Click here to review the CDC guidance. Institutes of higher education may follow the guidelines for the public. Health care facilities (including long-term care) should follow the health care personnel guidance for isolation and quarantine (updated 12/23/2021).
KDPH guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Childhood Education remain unchanged and schools/child care centers should continue to follow this guidance: Universal use of masks and physical distancing are still recommended, and test-to-stay remains an option for K-12 students who are exposed and asymptomatic.
Vaccine Effectiveness Against Omicron Variant
Dr. Stack said overwhelmingly, people who suffer severe COVID-19 are unvaccinated. Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines remain highly effective for people who are fully vaccinated and boosted, if eligible. Today, the U.S. Food and Drug and Administration authorized the COVID vaccine booster for children 12-15. The CDC is expected to meet later this week to discuss whether the agency will officially recommend the booster shots for kids ages 12 to 15.
Monoclonal Antibodies Update
Dr. Stack said, unfortunately, two of the three monoclonal antibodies FDA-authorized for COVID-19 in the United States are ineffective against the omicron variant. As such, new shipments of those antibodies to Kentucky have ended as of Jan. 3, 2022. The third FDA-authorized monoclonal antibody is available nationwide in only very limited quantities. Unless supplies increase and/or new monoclonal antibodies effective against the omicron variant are released, supplies in Kentucky will be extremely limited and many treatment locations will not have monoclonal antibodies to offer at their sites.
“Particularly given the loss of most of the monoclonal antibody supply, I again urge all eligible persons 5 and older to get vaccinated and/or boosted with a Moderna or Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to prevent serious and/or life-threatening COVID-19 disease,” said Dr. Stack.
Oral Antivirals
Dr. Stack said the Merck antiviral pill is available in Kentucky for the first time today. Only 3,300 treatment courses were allocated to Kentucky, so supplies are very limited. There will be a new page on the kycovid19.ky.gov website today that shows where to find the drug at 10 initial Walgreens locations.
“There is very little medication and a great demand. It is very likely these pharmacies will run out of their supply quickly. This is not their fault. Please be kind and patient with the staff at these pharmacies,” said Dr. Stack.
The Pfizer antiviral pill will arrive in Kentucky this week. Its supply is even more limited – Kentucky has only received 720 treatment courses. Because the supply is so small, it will be given to a small number of nursing home pharmacies and federally qualified health care centers in the early weeks to ensure it reaches some of the most vulnerable Kentuckians.
COVID-19 Case Information, Vaccinations Update
Number of people who have received at least one vaccine dose in Kentucky: 2,781,123
Jan. 1, Cases: 4,359
Jan. 1, Deaths: 26
Jan. 2, Cases: 2,767
Jan. 2, Deaths: 24
New Cases Today: 4,111
New Deaths: 15
Today’s Positivity Rate: 20.72%
Current Hospitalizations: 1,579
Current Intensive Care Admittances: 373
Currently on Ventilators: 205
Beshear said 62% of all Kentuckians have received at least their first dose, as well as 66% of Kentuckians ages 5 and older and 74% of all Kentucky adults.
Request to Extend Tornado Recovery Federal Cost-Share
Today, Beshear asked President Joe Biden to extend the 100% federal cost-share to 90 days, instead of 30 days, for the clean-up of the massive damage efforts required to restore Western Kentucky communities impacted by the deadly tornadoes that killed 77 Kentuckians, including 14 children.
“This is an unprecedented request for an unprecedented disaster,” said Beshear. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has estimated the total amount of debris to be removed in all counties to be in excess of 4.7 million cubic yards. To date it is estimated that only 3% of the debris has been removed in all counties, and those counties need help lightening the financial burden after many have faced multiple natural disasters over the past year.”
New Year’s Day Tornadoes
Kentucky Emergency Management is reporting nine tornadoes from New Year’s Day have been confirmed, including:
- Christian County, EF-2
- Warren County, EF-0
- Logan and Todd counties, EF-0
- Hart County, EF-0
- Barren County, EF-1
- Taylor County, EF-1
- Marion County, EF-1
- Madison County, EF-1
- Estill County, EF-0
Additional Disaster SNAP Benefits Approved for Kentucky Counties Following Historic Storms, Tornadoes
Beshear announced last week that Disaster SNAP, or D-SNAP, benefits have been approved for Kentuckians who live or work in 14 counties impacted by the Dec. 10-11 tornadic storms, and two other counties are on standby to be added in the near future. Applications open Jan. 5. If you would not ordinarily qualify for SNAP, you may qualify for D-SNAP if you had a disaster-related expense. To learn more, see the full release.
Disaster Unemployment Insurance Update
Gov. Beshear signed an Executive Order on Dec. 28, 2021, to temporarily suspend the work search requirement and the waiting week period for unemployment insurance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) claimants impacted by the severe weather on Dec. 10, 2021.
“I am happy to report that the United States Department of Labor approved the request. This means UI claimants who are unemployed due to the severe weather that work or live in the 16 counties that are included in the FEMA major disaster declaration will not have to search for work or wait for benefits for their first eligible week. This will include claims starting on Dec. 10 and only in the 16 counties that are under the disaster declaration.”
The updated locations for this week’s unemployment insurance DUA clinics are:
- 262 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, KY
- 351 Charles Drive, Mayfield, KY
They will be open Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 4-6 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.
It is not necessary to attend an in-person session if you can do everything online. These sessions are to assist individuals in filling out the application or answering questions. Individuals who became unemployed or those who are self-employed and had work interrupted in the sixteen Kentucky counties as a direct result of the severe storms on Dec. 10, 2021, are eligible to apply for DUA benefits through the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance. The deadline to apply for assistance in Barren and Marion counties is Jan. 27, 2022. For updated information on DUA, go to kcc.ky.gov.
Kentucky Closes out Record-Breaking Year for Economic Development
Gov. Beshear said last year’s books have officially closed and Kentucky indeed shattered the all-time records for investment and job creation last year – with 264 private-sector new-location and expansion projects committed to invest over $11.2 billion and create over 18,100 full-time jobs. To learn more, see today’s full release.
State of the Commonwealth Address
Beshear reminded Kentuckians that he will deliver his 2022 State of the Commonwealth Address on Wed. Jan. 5, at 7 p.m. EST.