FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky set new COVID-19 records every day this workweek.

Wednesday, the commonwealth saw its highest-ever seven-day positivity rate at 13.16%. 


What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky continues to set new COVID records

  • The commonwealth saw its highest-ever seven-day positivity rate at 13.16% on Wednesday

  • Gov. Beshear said hospitals are "overrun"

  • A record 2,000 Kentuckians are hospitalized right now

"Folks, our hospitals are overrun. We are seeing and will see significant death moving forward, but we can do something about it," said Gov. Andy Beshear in a video published to Twitter Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Kentucky reported 4,849 new cases of COVID-19. Over 1,500 of those cases were Kentuckians 18 and younger. The governor reported 65 more Kentuckians died from the virus Wednesday, which is the second-highest daily total in the state throughout the pandemic.

A record 2,074 Kentuckians are hospitalized right now, with more than 500 people in the ICU.

Beshear said there is still a way to turn the corner in the pandemic. He is urging Kentuckians to get vaccinated.

Taking a look at CDC data, the rolling 7-day average for doses administered has been trending up since the state started seeing a surge in new cases. That rolling 7-day average for doses administered has been rising slightly since July 9. 

According to Kentucky's COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, 2,481,654 Kentuckians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which accounts for 56% of the total population. 67% of Kentuckians 18 and older have received at least one dose. 85% of Kentuckians 65 or older are vaccinated.

UofL Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Smith said although people who are vaccinated can still catch a breakthrough case of the coronavirus, the vaccine is shown to be effective against more severe complications and death.

During a COVID-19 update with Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer Tuesday, Smith said the vast majority of COVID-19 patients at UofL Health are not vaccinated.

“I urge everyone to get out and get a vaccine," said Smith. "I don’t have anyone in the ICU, and haven’t for about three weeks now, that had gotten a vaccine. In particular, 95% of the people I am seeing hospitalized right now did not get a vaccine. If we only had seven or eight COVID patients in versus 144, we would be in a different situation, I think, across the board with all the health care systems.”

As Kentucky hospital resources are strained with a rising number of patients, Beshear submitted a request to FEMA asking for additional health care workers to care for Kentuckians fighting the virus.