Key COVID metrics trending down in Ky. New one-shot vaccine to arrive this week.

covid-19-pandemic-logo-04-05
covid-19-pandemic-logo-04-05

On Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear reported 509 new coronavirus cases were confirmed over the previous 24 hours.

The new cases increase the state’s COVID-19 victim count to 405,126 (about one case per 10.9 Kentucky residents).

Health officials reported 15 COVID-related deaths, raising the state’s death toll to 4,652 (1.1 percent fatality rate).

Continuing an encouraging trend, the rolling seven-day positivity rate dropped from Sunday’s 5.02 percent to 4.84 percent on Monday, the lowest the metric has been in at least four months, according to Beshear.

Another positive trend is coronavirus-related hospitalizations, which decreased by 13 patients to 719. Intensive care admissions, which has also been rapidly falling, dropped by seven to 180, while victims on ventilators fell by 36 people to 82.

Since the onset of the pandemic, 19,143 (4.7 percent) people have been hospitalized, with 3,976 (one percent) patients treated in intensive care.

At least 47,592 (11.8 percent) Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, and over 4.5 million COVID-19 tests have been administered in the state.

Health officials report that, at minimum, 699,398 Kentuckians have received at least one COVID vaccine.

Recently approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine on its way

Beshear said Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine will arrive in the state this week. The vaccine will be delivered to independent pharmacies.

“The approval of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot, highly effective vaccine adds to the growing weekly supply available to Kentucky that has risen in just over a month from around 57,000 to over 100,000 first doses and growing,” Beshear said.

The new vaccine gained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for emergency use on Friday.

As Beshear noted, the vaccine is a one-shot inoculation, unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines which require two separate doses. Additionally, the vaccine is for people ages 18 and over.

The vaccine was tested on nearly 40,000 subjects in South Africa, South America, Mexico, and the U.S. and showed an 85 percent efficacy rate “in preventing severe/critical COVID-19 occurring at least 28 days after vaccination,” the FDA said.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com