Gov. Beshear announces 156 new vaccine sites across the state

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) - Governor Andy Beshear has provided an update on COVID-19 cases.

Gov. Beshear released new information on the Home Eviction Relief fund. The state is offering tenants help paying past-due rent and utility bills. Both tenant and landlord must submit applications online.

Governor Beshear reported 1,880 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the state total to 384,903 cases. The governor says the state is seeing a 7.08 percent positivity rate, which is the lowest since Nov. 6. Of Thursday’s new cases, 296 are in kids 18 or younger.

There were 36 reported COVID-19 related deaths on Thursday, bringing the state total to 4,211.

As of Thursday, 1,142 people are hospitalized for COVID-19 related reasons, 278 are in the ICU, and 156 are on ventilators. At least 45,451 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.

Gov. Beshear announced the state is rolling out 156 new vaccine sites. There will soon be 125 federal pharmacy program sites at Walgreens and Good Neighbor independent pharmacies, 10 Kroger stores including the London location, and 15 Walmarts including the Winchester, Berea and Corbin stores. Kentuckians will need to create a Walgreens account to receive the vaccine at one of the company’s stores.

“We have a pie and it’s gotten just a little bit bigger, 28 percent under the Biden administration. We’re cutting that pie into more pieces which may mean you have to call a few more numbers,” Gov. Beshear said.

Governor Beshear said with Federal Pharmacy Partnership, an additional 13,000 first doses will go into arms every week.

“The last thing that we want is folks in their 70s, 80s and onward having to drive multiple counties to get access to the vaccine,” Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman said.

Coleman announced free transportation to the Kentucky Horse Park and Ephraim McDowell vaccine sites. Rides run through the Blue Grass Community Action partnership.

People who live in the following counties qualify for help: Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Franklin, Garrard, Jessamine, Lincoln, Mercer, Scott, Washington, and Woodford. You can call 800-456-6588 at least 24 hours before your vaccine appointment to reserve a ride.

The University of Kentucky will host four mobile clinics for minority groups.

“We would all agree that we need to do a better job and that there’s a lot of work ahead to make sure that we distribute these vaccines so that everyone has a fair and equal access,” Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said.

Beshear says the state has a supply issue—it’s not capacity.

“We’re already ready for a lot more than we’re getting. But we got to be ready to handle a whole lot and that’s what we’re building out,” Gov. Beshear said. He says he’s preparing for the flood of vaccines to hit.

Dr. Stack also talked about double masking. He says it’s most important for your mask to be made of multiple layers and fit snugly, and masks should not have gaps on the side of your face. They should fully cover your nose and mouth.

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