FRANKFORT, Ky. — The period between Christmas and New Year’s will mean lower test numbers for the coronavirus, and as a result, lower case numbers.

Kentucky reported 1,455 new cases of the coronavirus Monday, eight new deaths, and a seven-day positivity rate of 7.97 percent.

Gov. Andy Beshear said there will be several factors to look at as case numbers may fluctuate due to the holidays, but getting a test shouldn’t be an issue.

“We need people to continue doing it to stay safe, especially if you are going to gather over the holidays, or if you just did, get tested,” Beshear said. “Let me make that a clear message. I mean, I can’t do anything about whether you got together in a big group or in groups that had multiple households over Christmas or over the break, but if you did, please get tested.”

On the vaccination front, about 22,500 people have been received their first dose.

Kentucky has received 126,600 total doses so far.

The next phase of vaccinations could start as early as Feb. 1, and will include Kentuckians older than 70, first responders, and teachers.

Walgreens and CVS have been in charge of vaccinating long-term care facilities, but Beshear confirmed a couple Walgreens locations, one in Louisville and one in Lexington, had more vaccines than people to vaccinate, so they gave some out to the general public.

Beshear said those vaccines should have gone gone to other facilities or to health care workers.

“When we look at deploying millions of vaccinations across Kentucky in the coming months, there’s going to be mistakes, and as the number of providers increases and increases and increases, and situations happen and people panic, which they unfortunately do, some of these situations are going to happen,” Beshear said. “We’re going to try and minimize them as much as possible, but I also want to set reasonable expectations when human beings are involved in getting this vaccine out.”

Beshear said those people will still receive the second dose of the vaccine in a few weeks, as recommended.