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%. 

"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.