758 new KY COVID-19 cases and 23 deaths. Vaccine eligibility age dropping to 12.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 758 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky on Tuesday, as well as 23 additional virus-related deaths.
The statewide positivity rate is 3.15%, down slightly from Monday’s 3.25%. There are 415 people hospitalized with coronavirus, 109 in intensive care and 51 on a ventilator. Kentucky has confirmed a total of 449,864 COVID-19 cases and 6,620 deaths.
Nearly 1.9 million Kentuckians have received at least their initial dose of a coronavirus vaccine, which amounts to 53% of adults age 18 and older and 42% of the total state population, according to the Department for Public Health.
“No matter where you are in the state, you can sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine near where you live or work . . . it’s easier than ever,” Beshear said in a news release.
Kids as young as 12 are now eligible for a vaccine in Kentucky. Though final use approval is expected Wednesday from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee, some vaccination sites Tuesday had already opened registration and begun administering doses to adolescents, including at the University of Kentucky’s vaccination site in Kroger Field. Widespread vaccinations for this group will likely begin later this week.
Many school districts are planning to offer vaccines onsite to students during school hours. Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack urged school superintendents in a virtual meeting on Tuesday to move quickly to vaccinate their students before summer vacation.
“Please jump on that quick, so we can get this done as fast as possible,” he said.
