Pandemic keeps growing in Ky., but Beshear sees a peak in 10-14 days; Harlan County ball games called ‘super-spreader events’
The governor used this graph to show that very few fully vaccinated Kentuckians under 60 have died of Covid-19 since the Omicron variant began raising numbers in July. (Screenshot; click to enlarge)
—–
By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News
“Omicron is continuing to spread at a rapid rate,” said Gov. Andy Beshear, referring to the dominant variant of the virus. “We expect this week to probably be our highest week ever,” presumably meaning the number of new cases.
State table shows percentages of age groups with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. |
He said you need a test “if you have symptoms, or within five days after coming into close contact with someone who has Covid, or if you are going to gather with a group,” especially one with vulnerable people.
- The Harlan County Health Department said Wednesday afternoon that it was “overwhelmed” with more than 200 coronavirus cases that had not yet been reported publicly and “pointed to recent basketball games as the source,” calling them “super-spreader events,” reports Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader. “County Judge-Executive Dan Mosley said the health department didn’t have enough staff to quickly contact everyone who tested positive after the ball games, so wanted to alert people to monitor for Covid symptoms and get tested.”
- Fourth District U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, a “frequent critic of Covid-19 mitigation efforts,” has tested positive for the virus, reports the Herald-Leader’s Austin Horn. “Massie announced his positive test on Twitter this Thursday, saying he had ‘cold/allergy symptoms’ for a day but seems to be ‘over it’ now. Massie shared that he has not been vaccinated against the virus at all, but guessed that his symptoms were mild due to a previous infection two years ago.” Massie wrote, “Seek doctors advice if you find yourself sick, because every case is unique and some cases are very serious. I will not be voting, meeting in person, or making public appearances until next week. I am not vaccinated or boosted. If trolls or media have other questions about my health status, the answer is most likely, ‘NUNYA’,” presumably meaning “none of your business.”
- Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said she and her husband had tested positive and were having mild symptoms, after having been fully vaccinated and boosted. “Gorton, a registered nurse, also wears masks in public settings,” reports the Herald-Leader’s Beth Musgrave.
- About 50 students, campus workers and faculty members “entered a University of Louisville Board of Trustees meeting Thursday to deliver a petition to school leaders . . . demanding stricter safety precautions against Covid-19 and flexibility for remote work,” reports Billy Kobin of the Courier Journal. One student was allowed to speak early in the meeting.