Whitley County announces one new COVID related death Thursday

The Whitley County Health Department announced one additional death related to COVID-19 Thursday. Gov. Andy Beshear also announced that 270 members of the National Guard will be sent to Washington D.C. for the presidential inauguration.

Whitley County

The Whitley County Health Department announced 13 additional COVID–19 cases on Thursday, bringing the county’s total to 2,669.

The health department sadly announced one additional death bringing the total number of deaths to 24.

There are currently 311 active cases, of which 11 are hospitalized.

With the new cases, Whitley County’s COVID–19 incidence rate stands at 78.4

Laurel County

The Laurel County Health Department announced 72 additional cases of COVID–19 on Thursday, bringing the county’s total to 4,721.

There are currently 78 individuals hospitalized.

With the new cases, Laurel County COVID–19 incidence rate stands at 94.4.

Knox County

The Knox County Kentucky Health Department announced 25 additional cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the county’s total to 2,371.

Two of the new cases involved children, officials stated.

There are currently 378 active cases in Knox County.

With the additional cases, Knox County’s COVID–19 incidence rate stands at 91.7.

Bell County

The Bell County Health Department announced 25 additional COVID–19 cases, bringing the county’s total to 2,188.

There are currently 180 active cases, of which 11 are hospitalized.

With the additional cases, Bell County’s COVID–19 incidence rate stands at 97.1.

Statewide

Gov. Andy Beshear announced 4,084 additional COVID–19 cases in Kentucky on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 317,345.

Beshear reported 51 additional deaths, bringing the death toll to 3,042.

Beshear said 1,661 Kentuckians are currently hospitalized, of which 548 are in intensive care.

As of Thursday, 119 of Kentucky’s 120 counties have a COVID–19 incidence rate greater than 25, which places them in the red zone.

Fulton County has the lowest incidence rate at 19.1 which means that it is in the orange zone.

Morgan County has the highest incidence rate at 869.4.

Beshear also announced Thursday that in addition to the 270 members of the National Guard that will be sent to the presidential inauguration in Washington D.C., the guard has also been activated in Frankfort to assist in security in the event of any acts of terror.

Relating to the COVID-19 virus, Beshear announced that the first round of vaccinations of staff for grades K-12 will be complete the week of Feb. 1.

A partnership with Kroger to increase vaccinations is expected to begin in regional locations during the week of Feb. 1. The locations have not been announced but are expected to be released to the public on Jan. 28.

The partnership with Kroger will provide drive through vaccination sites that will be able to vaccinate anyone in Phases 1a, 1b, and 1c.

Secretary Jim Gray was announced as the director of vaccine distribution

“The work that’s been done to get us to this point is nothing short, as I have said, of remarkable,” said Gray. “This is all about team Kentucky delivering on an ambitious life-saving project.”

Gray said that state is committed to ensuring equitable distribution of the vaccine. The state is in the process of building a registration website and building a hot line to ease the process of getting an appointment.