COVID cases rising, but not cause for alarm, governor says

Only a few counties in Kentucky are in the yellow

FRANKFORT, Ky. – COVID-19 cases in Kentucky continue to rise, as is the case in the rest of the United States, but Gov. Andy Beshear says the rate of increase nationwide is slowing.

“We should be watching it,” he said. “While what we’re currently seeing is no cause for concern, but we should certainly be paying attention.”

The new Community Level map released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday show while most Kentucky counties remain in the low category, 21 are now yellow, or medium level. That’s compared to 32 last week. However, four counties - Boyd, Greenup, Lawrence and McCracken - have reached red, or high community level of COVID. McCracken was the only red county a week ago.

The governor said there is reason for optimism despite COVID numbers increasing. “I think we all see it and we all know people who are getting it. It is not making people as sick, and that is a function of a couple of things. It doesn’t appear that this variant is as aggressive as the delta variant, and we have a whole lot of people who have gotten vaccinated, or boosted, or who have had COVID, which boosts immune response.”

Despite the number of Kentuckians getting vaccinated or boosted is slowing, the total number has reached a milestone, according to Beshear.

“This is the first time we can report to you that two-thirds of all Kentuckians have had at least one shot,” he said. “That even includes those that are not eligible due to their age being below the threshold for vaccination.”

He also urged those 50 years of age and above to get their second booster.

For the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky and more guidance on community levels, go to the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s website, at http://kycovid19.ky.gov/.