LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Positive news came out of the Governor’s COVID-19 briefing on Monday, when Governor Andy Beshear said several numbers in the COVID report point to a period of plateau.
The total number of COVID-19 cases per week, the number of hospitalizations, and the COVID patients in the ICU are just a few of the daily reports showing a declining trend in Kentucky in recent weeks.
“It’s not often we celebrate that kind of health care achievement and are number one for all the right reasons,” said Dr. Steven Stack of the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
It’s something that’s even nationally recognized, the Washington Post published an article with numbers showing that Kentucky is the only state in the country where ICU capacity is now lower than it was three months ago.
“To every Kentuckian who has sacrificed himself in this latest round of restrictions, to every Kentuckian who wears a mask every day, to every Kentuckian who follows the rules, take a look at that,” said Gov. Beshear. “I hope you are proud of that, because that is your job.”
Compared to our border states alone, data shows that Kentucky has fewer cases and COVID-related deaths than any state except West Virginia, and we also have the lowest death rate.
It’s an impact. Lexington Emergency Physician Dr. Ryan Stanton said he noticed it firsthand because his work required him to travel across state lines.
“I just felt like Kentuckians were a little bit better in general, a little bit more docile with the mask, a little bit more distant, and frankly just a little bit more aware than other places I traveled to with motorsport.” Stanton said. “It’s always nice to come here and I always felt a little bit safer when I was in and around the Bluegrass.”
It’s a ranking health experts urge Kentuckians to take the holidays especially.
“The ball is yours, folks,” said Dr. Stack. “We have to get through the next two weeks and not cause a horrible self-inflicted wound.”
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