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“Fight Harder Than We Ever Have”: Beshear Announces Record Test Positivity Rate

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Gov. Andy Beshear encouraged Kentuckians to “stay strong” in a press release Friday, as coronavirus cases rise and the test positivity rate for the state reaches a record high since the pandemic began.

Beshear reported 3,614 new coronavirus cases Friday, bringing the total number of cases to 193,193. There were 24 additional deaths, bringing the state total to 2,039 deaths. Beshear urged people to continue using preventative measures.

“These vaccines are right around the corner. Within the next 10 days or so we might be giving out the first vaccines,” he said.  “That means every loss of life and every extra infection that happens between now and then is entirely avoidable. So let’s fight harder than we ever have and do our part as Team Kentucky.”

The state positivity rate climbed to 9.93% , replacing Wednesday’s record of the highest positivity rate since last March.

As of Friday, 1,792 Kentuckians were currently hospitalized for COVID-19. This includes 409 ICU cases and 230 on ventilators.

Counties with the highest number of positive cases included Jefferson County with 576 new cases, Fayette County with 351 cases, and Boone County with 118 cases.

The Calloway County Health Department reported 25 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, bringing the county total to 1,880 cases. To date, there have been 205 people are isolated with the virus at home in the county, and 13 are hospitalized. The county test positivity rate was 18.391%, as provided by Murray-Calloway County Hospital.

Beshear also signed an executive order extending previous orders which allowed pharmacists to distribute 30-day refills. This executive order will be effective for an additional 30 days beginning Friday.

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