FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said fewer Kentuckians are going to hospitals with COVID-19, positivity rates are dropping and the state just recorded a seventh straight week of declining cases.
What You Need To Know
- Gov. Andy Beshear reports declining hospitalizations, positivity rates, cases
- Restaurants, bars, other businesses can slightly increase capacity on Friday
- New daily case reports in Kentucky are down 72% in the last seven weeks
- Beshear said several businesses that are welcoming customers at 50% capacity will be able to expand to 60% on Friday
Beshear presented a burst of positive news on the virus front during his daily briefing Monday, and said restaurants, bars and other businesses will be able to slightly increase capacity on Friday.
New daily case reports in Kentucky are down 72% in the last seven weeks, and on Monday the state reported the lowest number of daily cases, 509, since late September, the governor said. The positivity rate, a seven-day average, was at 4.8%, according to state numbers.
“These are numbers we haven’t seen in months and months and months,” he said.
More than 100,000 Kentuckians were vaccinated last week as vaccine centers received a surplus of doses after bad weather delays. The state has given a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to nearly 700,000 Kentuckians, the governor said.
The state reported 15 coronavirus-related deaths on Monday.
Beshear said several businesses that are welcoming customers at 50% capacity will be able to expand to 60% on Friday. That includes restaurants, bars, barber shops, retail stores, movie theaters and fitness centers.