At least 11 healthcare systems across Kentucky will require their medical workers to get vaccinated for COVID-19, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday, a day after the state reported its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases in months.
“If we are going to defeat and not just delay COVID-19, there is one and only one answer,” Beshear said. “That answer is vaccinations. So each decision that we make has to gauge the impact on getting the unvaccinated to take that shot.”
In remarks at the Capitol, some hospital executives said the rapid increase in new cases and hospitalizations made the requirement necessary.
“Just a month ago, I had three COVID patients and only one in the ICU. As of this morning, I had 43 patients in the hospital. Over a third of them are in the ICU fighting for their life,” said Donovan Blackburn, president of Pikeville Medical Center. “Vaccines are necessary if we are going to win the fight.”
The hospital systems include Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Baptist Health (which operates Baptist Health Hardin, formerly Hardin Memorial Hospital), CHI Saint Joseph Health, King’s Daughters Health System, Med Center Health, Norton Healthcare, St. Claire Healthcare, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, UK Healthcare and UofL Health.
Beshear also implored Kentuckians to wear masks because of the statewide spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. More than 80 of Kentucky’s 120 counties are reported to be in the red zone — signaling a severe level of community spread, according to state guidelines.
“I don’t care where you live or what county you’re in, when you are out of the house, and you are indoors, you now need to be wearing a mask,” he said. “That’s where we are. And that’s what it will take.”
Dr. Steven Stack, Kentucky’s public health commissioner, said that more than 90 percent of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations were among partially vaccinated or unvaccinated Kentuckians.
The number of children infected with the virus also has risen sharply. In July, 2,092 cases were reported in children under 12, up from 534 in June.
“This virus is dangerous and becoming more dangerous the longer it has the opportunity to spread rampantly,” he added.
The Associated Press
