There will be limited reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic from the state through the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.
Governor Andy Beshear’s office on Wednesday announced that there would be no news conferences or media releases on Thursday or Friday (Christmas Eve and Christmas) or next Thursday and Friday (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day).
On Saturday, Dec. 26., Wednesday, Dec. 30, and Saturday, January 2, the governor’s office will send out a media release with COVID-related updates. On Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 28 and 29, the governor will host a news conference and send a media release.
On Sunday, January 3, the day’s COVID report will be posted to social media only, the governor’s office said.
On Wednesday, the governor said that the state “won another battle, beating back exponential growth of this virus in our state before Christmas.”
Total weekly case counts in the state have dropped since a late summer and autumn surge of the virus prompted Beshear to shutter indoor dining for three weeks, close all schools, and issue additional regulations.
The Washington Post reported last week that Kentucky is the only state in the country that is using fewer intensive care unit beds than it was three months earlier.
“What I love about this holiday most is that it’s not about the gifts; it’s about people taking care of each other and appreciating their loved ones and community more than ever,” Beshear said. “Let’s all live up to the true spirit of Christmas this year, and every year in the future after we get through this together.”
An additional 2,953 positive COVID-19 cases were announced in Kentucky on Wednesday along with twenty-six new deaths.
In Northern Kentucky, Kenton County reported 124 new cases while Boone Co. saw 77, Campbell Co. reported 26, Grant. Co. saw 15 and Pendleton Co. recorded 6.
The state’s positivity rate is currently 8.35%.
There are currently 1,644 people hospitalized across the state including 413 in intensive care units and 222 on ventilators.
-Staff report
Image: Northern Kentucky counties’ “incidence rate” of positive cases per 100,000 people