When it's hot, drink more water; here are ways to get that done

Photo illustration from CDC

Kentucky Health News

Staying hydrated is essential to maintaining health, especially during summer months. Aside from preventing dehydration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that water helps your body maintain normal temperature, facilitate joint movement and protection, protect sensitive tissues like your spinal cord and remove waste through sweat, urination and bowel movements.

Here are tips for staying hydrated this summer, and there are more available at cdc.gov/healthy-weight-growth/water-healthy-drinks/index.html.

Upgrade your water bottle. Buying a reusable water bottle to refill throughout the day can help ensure you drink enough water. Freezing pre-filled plastic water bottles can be a great way to make sure you have access to cold water throughout the day, especially if you plan to spend an extended amount of time outside. Consider buying a flavor-infusing water bottle to add fruit flavors to your water if you dislike the taste of plain water.

Cut back on other drinks. Substitute water for sugary drinks like sodas or teas when you feel thirsty and consume alcohol, caffeine and energy drinks in moderation. Sports drinks can be a good way to restore electrolytes after prolonged periods of sweating and heavy physical activity, but avoid consuming them outside of regenerating electrolytes. Remember that choosing to drink water as often as possible will help keep you hydrated.

Make water part of your meals. Water is usually a drink option at restaurants, so choose to order water when given the opportunity. If you plan to host dinners or parties this summer, serve water and water-based drinks with your meals. Serve recipes with fruits and vegetables that contain water, like cucumbers and tomatoes. Whether you plan to eat indoors or outside, consider keeping a pitcher of ice water on the table during meals so guests can refill their glasses as they need to. Add a wedge of lime or lemon to your water.

Some other beverages can be part of healthy eating patterns: Plain coffee or teas, sparkling water, seltzers, and flavored waters are low-calorie choices. Low-fat or fat-free milk; unsweetened, fortified milk alternatives; and 100% fruit or vegetable juice contain important nutrients. Enjoy these drinks within recommended calorie limits. Milk contains important nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and vitamin D.

What about other beverages? Here's what the CDC says:

• Sugary drinks: Regular sodas, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and sweetened coffee and tea contain calories but little nutritional value. Learn how to Rethink Your Drink.
• Alcoholic drinks: If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
• Caffeinated drinks: Moderate caffeine consumption (up to 400 mg per day) can be a part of a healthy diet. That's about 3 to 5 cups of plain coffee.
• Drinks with sugar alternatives: Drinks that are labeled "sugar-free" or "diet" likely contain high-intensity sweeteners, such as sucralose, aspartame, or saccharine. These sweeteners may reduce caloric intake in the short term. However, there are many questions about the sweeteners' effectiveness for long-term weight management.
• Energy drinks: In addition to added sugar, these products may also contain large amounts of caffeine and other legal stimulants. Concerns have been raised about the potential health risks of these products, especially for young people. 

Regularly consuming water during the summer will help you stay hydrated and healthy. Find more resources about water and hydration at nutrition.gov/topics/basic-nutrition/water-hydration-and-health and heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/staying-hydrated-staying-healthy.

'Blue Monday' is a myth, but Seasonal Affective Disorder is not

Blue Monday candy is a product of
Ruth Hunt Candies of Mount Sterling.

Kentucky Health News

Monday, Jan. 15, is considered by some to be “Blue Monday,” the most naturally depressing day of the year as people feel “blue” from holiday bills, bleak weather and forsaking their New Year resolutions, says Hackensack Meridian Health of New Jersey in a press release.

It’s common for all these factors to have a compounding effect on mental health, but point out that sadness or depression don’t follow a calendar and can happen at any time, say the hospital group's psychiatrists and psychologists. "Understand you are not alone and talk to others about your stressors and, most importantly, seek help if the symptoms of depression are severe or persist," the release says.

“It is OK if you haven’t succeeded at your resolution yet. Start now. Don’t attach your success to the calendar,” said psychiatrist Dr. Rehan Aziz. “Make sure your resolution is measurable and manageable, with small steps.When starting new habits, set reasonable expectations.“

“Blue Monday” is a myth, but is emblematic of feelings of depression at this time of year, experts say. “Although the most difficult time of year may vary for each person, any time with higher stress, less sunlight, feeling lonely, or barriers to enjoyable activities can take a toll on our moods,” said psychologist Heather Derry-Vick. “For many people, wintertime checks a lot of those boxes,”

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that usually happens in fall and winter, when less daylight triggers chemical changes in the brain. SAD can be trated with therapy using light and and antidepressants.

“Some researchers believe that SAD can be linked to a reduction in serotonin production, a chemical in the brain that helps to regulate mood; or a vitamin D deficiency, which can occur due to changes in exposure to sunlight,” psychiatrist Dr. Yolanda Picket said. “Some also believe that there is a link to increased melatonin production, which may be triggered by the darker days in fall and winter seasons.”

Treatment options that may help patients with depression or SAD include:

• Talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy
• Medication
• A combination of talk therapy plus medication

Lifestyle changes that may help patients with depression or SAD include:

• Getting exercise regularly
• Socializing with friends regularly
• Participating in activities that you typically enjoy regularly

Other treatments that may help patients with winter-pattern SAD include:

• Light box therapy – exposure to a certain type of bright light
• Vitamin D supplements, if they’re recommended by a doctor

Lifestyle changes that may help patients with winter-pattern SAD include:

• Regulating sleep patterns, to avoid sleeping too much
• Regulating diet, to avoid overeating or craving carbs

Even though the data may not support the idea of Blue Monday, it can be a good reminder to do a personal mood check.

“Have you been feeling down or having a hard time getting going most days, for a few weeks or more? Is that making it more difficult to do the things you normally do? If so, Blue Monday is as good of a day as any to reach out to your primary doctor or to a mental health professional for an assessment,” Derry-Vick said. “They can help you to figure out steps to improve your mood.”

Cold weather poses increased risks for heart attacks and strokes

Centers for Disease Control illustration

By CHI Saint Joseph Health

As the temperatures drop and winter weather approaches, CHI Saint Joseph Health urges Kentuckians to be proactive in knowing the adverse effects winter weather can have on their heart health.

“Regardless of background, age or gender, it is important to be aware of the cold and how it could impact your heart health,” said Dr. Sharat Koul, an interventional cardiologist with CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group. “Cold temperatures put extra stress on your heart by pushing your blood pressure up, which can precipitate a range of cardiovascular events.”

When your body is experiencing extreme cold temperatures, it can add a burden to your cardiovascular system. The cold causes your heart to work overtime to keep you warm and constricts your arteries, limiting the blood flow to your heart. This heightened workload can elevate heart rate and blood pressure, potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke.

While maintaining regular physical activity is critical for heart health, exercise caution when engaging in outdoor activities during the winter. 

Whether you’re shoveling snow in the driveway or running through the neighborhood, be mindful that physical exertion in colder temperatures can cause additional strain on your heart. 

Particularly with activities like snow removal, it is important to steer clear of overexertion and refrain from pushing yourself beyond your limits. Snow removal is a very strenuous activity, and your heart is already working overtime to combat the cold.

People with heart conditions such as arrhythmia or high blood pressure, or those with risk factors such as being overweight, smoking or having diabetes, should be particularly vigilant during winter as they are at a greater risk of heart issues during colder temperatures.

To protect your heart during the winter months, CHI health-care providers advise dressing in layers when venturing outdoors, limiting exposure to the cold weather, staying informed of the extreme temperature forecasts, and remaining dry during freezing rain and snow. 

Additionally, keep up with your heart health year-round by staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep, and exercising at least 150 minutes weekly. These proactive measures can collectively help safeguard your heart during winter months.

Recognizing the warning signs of a heart attack is also crucial for timely intervention.

Symptoms include chest pain or discomfort; pain in the jaw, neck or back; shortness of breath; dizziness; and nausea or vomiting. Women may also experience upper abdomen pain, indigestion and faintness. 

If you suspect someone is having a heart attack, dial 911 immediately and, if able to, administer hands-only CPR. If you are not already CPR-certified, acquire the necessary skills at https://cpr.heart.org/en/.

Identifying a stroke is equally critical, and the acronym FAST helps:

• F: face drooping
• A: arm weakness
• S: speech difficulty
• T: time to call 911

Every minute counts when someone is experiencing a stroke, so it is paramount to act fast.

The heat is on; here's how to keep your heart healthy in summer

By Dr. Vincent Sorrell

Chief of cardiology, UK HealthCare

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to summer. From outdoor barbecues to lounging by the pool, summertime means more time spent outdoors with friends and family. But fun in the sun comes with risks.

Humans regulate heat through blood flow. A healthy heart dissipates heat by pushing blood toward the skin. We also shed heat through sweat. People with pre-existing heart conditions are especially at risk, as heat can put extra stress on the heart. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 600 people die every year from preventable, heat-related illnesses. More than 65,000 are treated in the emergency room for heat stroke, heat exhaustion and dehydration.

It’s important to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and what to do is someone is in danger. With heat exhaustion, look for signs such as heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, fatigue, and dizziness or fainting. It can be treated by moving the person indoors and cooling them off with a cool cloth. If they don’t improve in an hour, seek medical help.

Heat stroke is more severe. Symptoms include high body temperature (above 103º F), skin that’s red and hot but not sweaty, rapid pulse, throbbing headache, and dizziness and confusion. Heat stroke is a medical emergency — call 911 right away if you see someone in distress.

Dehydration can begin within just a few hours of the onset of extreme heat. Signs of dehydration include fatigue, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness and dry mouth. Dehydration causes the heart to pump harder, which can put heart patients at further risk. Elderly patients in particular need to drink up, as they may not feel thirsty until they are dehydrated. Some patients may still not feel thirsty even after they become dehydrated.

Here are some ways you can stay safe in the sun:

Drink lots of water. Hydration helps the heart pump more easily and helps the muscles work more efficiently. The more you sweat, the more you need to replenish fluids. Skip the alcohol, coffee and tea as it can further dehydrate you. It’s important to keep drinking, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

Keep your cool. In excessively hot temperatures, stay indoors. If you must be outside, find a shady spot and use a fan or a damp towel to stay cool. At the peak of heat in the early afternoon, avoid being outside for prolonged periods of time. Wear loose, light-colored clothing as well as a hat.

Monitor medications. Due to the extra strain of heat, heart patients need to be diligent in keeping up their prescription regime.

Be smart when it comes to exercise. Exercise is important for long-term heart health. If you don’t have the option to take your work out indoors, stick to the early hours of the day. Take it easy — avoid excessive or intense effort in extreme heat.

'Children are not little adults' and need special care in heat waves

Photo by Cavan via Getty Images and Kaiser Health News

By Emmarie Huetteman
Kaiser Health News

After more than a week of record-breaking temperatures across much of the country, public-health experts are cautioning that children are more susceptible to heat illness than adults are — even more so when they’re on the athletic field, living without air conditioning, or waiting in a parked car.

Cases of heat-related illness are rising with average air temperatures, and experts say almost half of those getting sick are children. The reason is twofold: Children’s bodies have more trouble regulating temperature than those of adults, and they rely on adults to help protect them from overheating.

Parents, coaches, and other caretakers, who can experience the same heat very differently than kids do, may struggle to identify a dangerous situation or catch the early symptoms of heat-related illness in children.

“Children are not little adults,” said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, a pediatric hospitalist at Boston Children’s Hospital. 

As record heat becomes more frequent, posing serious risks even to healthy adults, the number of cases of heat-related illnesses has gone up, including among children. Those most at risk are young children in parked vehicles and adolescents returning to school and participating in sports during the hottest days of the year.

More than 9,000 high school athletes are treated for heat-related illnesses every year.

Heat-related illnesses occur when exposure to high temperatures and humidity, which can be intensified by physical exertion, overwhelms the body’s ability to cool itself. Cases range from mild, like benign heat rashes in infants, to more serious, when the body’s core temperature increases. That can lead to life-threatening instances of heatstroke, diagnosed once the body temperature rises above 104 degrees, potentially causing organ failure.

Prevention is key. Experts emphasize that drinking plenty of water, avoiding the outdoors during the hot midday and afternoon hours, and taking it slow when adjusting to exercise are the most effective ways to avoid getting sick.

Children’s bodies take longer to increase sweat production and otherwise acclimatize in a warm environment than adults’ do, research shows. Young kids are also more susceptible to dehydration because a larger percentage of their body weight is water.

Infants and younger children also have more trouble regulating their body temperature, in part because they often don’t recognize when they should drink more water or remove clothing to cool down. A 1995 study showed that young children who spent 30 minutes in a 95-degree room saw their core temperatures rise significantly higher and faster than their mothers’ — even though they sweat more than adults do relative to their size.

Pediatricians advise caretakers to monitor how much water children consume and encourage them to drink before they ask for it. Thirst indicates the body is already dehydrated.

They should also dress kids in light-colored, lightweight clothes; limit outdoor time during the hottest hours; and look for ways to cool down, such as by visiting an air-conditioned place like a library, taking a cool bath, or going for a swim.

To address the risks to student athletes, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommends that high school athletes acclimatize by gradually building their activity over the course of two weeks when returning to their sport for a new season — including by slowly stepping up the amount of any protective equipment they wear.

“You’re gradually increasing that intensity over a week to two weeks so your body can get used to the heat,” said Kathy Dieringer, president of NATA.

Warning Signs and Solutions

Experts note a flushed face, fatigue, muscle cramps, headache, dizziness, vomiting, and a lot of sweating are among the symptoms of heat exhaustion, which can develop into heatstroke if untreated. Call a doctor if symptoms worsen, such as if the child seems disoriented or cannot drink.

Taking immediate steps to cool a child experiencing heat exhaustion or heatstroke is critical. The child should be taken to a shaded or cool area; be given cool fluids with salt, like sports drinks; and have any sweaty or heavy garments removed.

For adolescents, being submerged in an ice bath is the most effective way to cool the body, while younger children can be wrapped in cold, wet towels or misted with lukewarm water and placed in front of a fan.

Although children’s deaths in parked cars have been well documented, the tragic incidents continue to occur. According to federal statistics, 23 children died of vehicular heatstroke in 2021. Null, who collects his own data, said 13 children have died so far this year.

Caretakers should never leave children alone in a parked car, Null said. Take steps to prevent young children from entering the car themselves and becoming trapped, including locking the car while it’s parked at home.

More than half of cases of vehicular pediatric heatstroke occur because a caretaker accidentally left a child behind, he said. While in-car technology reminding adults to check their back seats has become more common, only a fraction of vehicles have it, requiring parents to come up with their own methods, like leaving a stuffed animal in the front seat.

The good news, Null said, is that simple behavioral changes can protect kids. “This is preventable in 100% of the cases,” he said.

A Lopsided Risk

Bernstein leads Harvard’s Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, which works with front-line health clinics to help their predominantly low-income patients respond to the health impacts of climate change. Federally backed clinics alone provide care to about 30 million Americans, including many children, he said.

Bernstein recently led a nationwide study that found that from May through September, days with higher temperatures are associated with more visits to children’s hospital emergency rooms. Many visits were more directly linked to heat, although the study also pointed to how high temperatures can exacerbate existing health conditions like neurological disorders.

“Children are more vulnerable to climate change through how these climate shocks reshape the world in which they grow up,” Bernstein said.

Helping people better understand the health risks of extreme heat and how to protect themselves and their families are among the public health system’s major challenges, experts said.

The National Weather Service’s heat alert system is mainly based on the heat index, a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with air temperature. But the alerts are not related to effects on health, said Kathy Baughman McLeod, director of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center.

By the time temperatures rise to the level that a weather alert is issued, many vulnerable people — like children, pregnant women, and the elderly — may already be experiencing heat exhaustion or heatstroke. The center developed a new heat alert system, which is being tested in Seville, Spain, historically one of the hottest cities in Europe.

The system marries metrics like air temperature and humidity with public health data to categorize heat waves and, when they are serious enough, give them names — making it easier for people to understand heat as an environmental threat that requires prevention measures.

The categories are determined through a metric known as excess deaths, which compares how many people died on a day with the forecasted temperature versus an average day. That may help health officials understand how severe a heat wave is expected to be and make informed recommendations to the public based on risk factors like age or medical history.

The health-based alert system would also allow officials to target caretakers of children and seniors through school systems, preschools, and senior centers, Baughman McLeod said.

Giving people better ways to conceptualize heat is critical, she said.

“It’s not dramatic. It doesn’t rip the roof off of your house,” Baughman McLeod said. “It’s silent and invisible.”

Kaiser Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Along with Polling and Policy Analysis, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at the Kaiser Family Foundation. KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues.

Tornado cleanup is more than physical; loss and suffering take emotional and psychological tolls that can be harder to deal with

Downtown Mayfield is pictured on Feb. 2. (Photo by William Widmer for The New York Times)

About 40 percent of the debris from the gigantic tornado that plowed through 200 miles of Western Kentucky Dec. 10 has been picked up, but Rick Rojas of The New York Times reports, "Communities along that path are now confronting another form of devastation that is less tangible but just as staggering: the emotional and psychological toll that comes from enduring so much loss and suffering."

Rojas adds, "The long and unforgiving reach of the storm is evident in nights that are sleepless or disrupted by harrowing dreams, unexpected bursts of tears, flashes of anger, fuzzy memories, a diminished appetite — the multitude of ways that trauma can manifest itself after a disaster. Now, more than a month after the storm, some — because of resources or simple luck — have been able to emerge from the shock of the storm. On the other side of a growing gulf, though, are the many others whose lives were upended and are still being whirled by turbulence. For them, mental health experts warn, the sense of security and calm integral to recovery remains elusive."

The focus of Rojas's story is Mayfield, a town of 10,000 "walloped by the initial shock of seeing entire stretches pulverized by the worst of the storm. Downtown remains mangled," he writes. "People point to piles of debris and refer to them by what they used to be: a church, a shop, a family home."

Steven Elder, the president of the Mayfield Community Foundation, which is raising money to help residents recover, told Rojas that it has been hardest for people who were already disadvantaged: “People were hurting long before Dec. 10. That’s the disaster that’s going to set these people back a lifetime. They’ve fallen into a hole they’ll never get out of.”

Rojas focuses on several victims, primarily Isaiah Holt, who "sustained nerve damage while trapped in the rubble of the candle factory where he worked and fears it will be permanent. His skin is etched with cuts and chemical burns. A strong gust of wind or an exploding building in an action movie can unleash in him a rush of terror. Lately he has spent $400 on DoorDash deliveries, as the pain — physical but also psychological — makes it difficult to venture outside."

“I felt good today,” Holt told Rojas after making phone calls and taking a shower, but "He confessed that it was only the second one he had taken in 2022."

“That’s what ‘feeling good’ means, just be feeling normal,” Holt said. “What makes it hard is I have nothing to do right now. I’m single with no kids, and I have no job.” So, Rojas writes, "He sits and he stews."

Holt was "pinned under the rubble for hours," Rojas reports. "He drained the battery on his cellphone posting videos on Snapchat, desperate to tell his family and friends he loved them. He feared he would not make it out. He feared for his brother, who worked there too and was similarly trapped. Weeks later, Mr. Holt is grateful to be alive and for the company of his brother, who spent several days in a coma but is now recovering at home. But he is also depressed and saddled with new fears."

Holt "lost 20 pounds in the hospital and feels out of shape. He is even more concerned about his mental health," Rojas writes, quoting him: “An able mind is 10 times better than an able body.” Holt has already had post-traumatic stress, after serving in the Army as a door gunner on a helicopter.

"Before he started at the candle factory about three months ago, Mr. Holt was working with young people, coaching them in sports and taking them on college tours," Rojas reports. "In a way, he is still coaching. He is often on the phone with his candle factory co-workers, trying to help them deal with the trauma. “Instead of sugarcoating,” he said, “I’m just letting them know: There are going to be bad days.”

Family members of the injured are affected, too: "Darryl Johnson, whose sister was killed at the factory, has checked in just about every day with his nieces and nephew — her grown children. He was trying to give his brother-in-law some space. He could tell he needed the room to grieve," Rojas reports.

“Eventually, it got to me,” Johnson told him. “I’m a fisherman. I was at the lake one day. I turned into the lake — that’s how hard I cried. You cry so hard your throat gets sore and you can’t speak, and finally, it was over. I just put my feet on the ground and said, ‘Get back to work. You’ve got a job to do.’”

Kentucky's coronavirus positive-test rate goes above 7%; lack of home tests will make Thanksgiving riskier than it should be

New York Times map, adapted by Ky. Health News; click it to enlarge or here for interactive version.

By Al Cross

Kentucky Health News

The pandemic in Kentucky mostly plateaued Wednesday as the nation began a long holiday weekend offering many more opportunities for the coronavirus to spread, especially among the unvaccinated. And the untested.

"Thanksgiving is bound to cause a spike in America’s covid infections," says a headline on The Economist's website. The subhead on the story: "Blame resistance to getting jabbed and a lack of home testing," which could have made Thanksgiving gatherings safer.

"We need to flood the system with testing," Dr. Anthony Fauci told CBS News.

The Economist reports, "These kits are still hard to come by in local pharmacies, and they are costly. The Quidel QuickVue test is priced at $23.99 on Amazon, and the On/Go one at $34.99—and even then they are not available until after the holiday. A family of four would need to spend about $100 or more. By contrast, in Britain the National Health Service allows each person, every day, to order a pack of seven rapid tests free."

“In other countries, we see it’s become the norm for friends and family to get tested before a party, before dinner, before celebrations,” Leana Wen, former health commissioner of Baltimore, told The Economist. “We need to get to that point in this country.” She said the Food and Drug Administration is "letting perfect be the enemy of the good" with an approval process that is too stringent. 

On Wednesday the percentage of Kentuckians testing positive for the virus in the last seven days hit 7.05%, the first time it exceeded 7% in five weeks. It hit a low of 4.98% on Oct 31; the high was 14.16% on Sept. 8.

The state reported 2,144 new cases of the virus, two more than Tuesday but lowering the seven-day rolling average by 7, to 1,733 per day. Almost 26 percent of the new cases were in Kentuckians 18 and younger.

The state's seven-day infection rate ticked up slightly, from an average of 32.49 daily cases per 100,000 residents on Tuesday to a 32.62 average on Wednesday. Counties with rates more than double that rate were Robertson, 94.9; Powell, 92.5; Carroll, 72.6; Magoffin, 70.5; Harlan, 69.2; and Breckinridge, 67.

Kentucky hospitals reported 818 Covid-19 patients, 17 fewer than Tuesday, with 204 of them in intensive care (down 13) and 107 on mechanical ventilation (up 9). Eight of the 10 hospital regions had more than 80% of their intensive-care beds occupied, led by Lake Cumberland at 96%, with Covid patients in 16%.

The state reported 35 more Covid-19 deaths, raising Kentucky's pandemic death toll to 10,795.

Over the last 14 days, the state's new-case average has gone up 29%, more than the national gain of 25%, but its national ranking has gone down slightly, to 28th, because of steeper increases in other states, mainly to the north, where the weather has been colder and people are spending more time indoors.

So says The New York Times, which has changed its method of calculating averages to eliminate days on which states don't report cases, such as holiday weekends. Kentucky's next report will come Monday.

"The previous method displayed the average of the day and the previous six days of data," the Times explains. "In the new method, if the seven-day window includes days with no data reported, the period is extended to older days until it includes seven days of reported data."

UPDATE: Gov. Andy Beshear said on Facebook, "As we sit down at our Thanksgiving meals tomorrow, remember there are folks across the commonwealth with empty seats at the table because of this virus. Tonight, let's show compassion and light our homes green. We must never forget we're in this together."

157 new vaccination sites to open, bringing total to 567; positive-test rate is down again; one-year memorial set Saturday

University of Kentucky pharmacist Stephanie Branham, left, gave UK's 100,000th coronavirus vaccination to Roberta Mason of Frankfort, accompanied by her daughter Sherry Brown, at Kroger Field March 4. (UK photo by Mark Cornelison)

By Melissa Patrick

Kentucky Health News

Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday that the state would open 157 new sites for coronavirus vaccinations, and that Kentucky's rates of new cases and positive tests for the virus continue to trend down. 

“Vaccine locations are getting closer and closer and closer to you; so again, this is the infrastructure we have to build,” Beshear said at his last pandemic news briefing of the week. “The president told us earlier this week that every adult who wants a shot can get their first shot of hope by the end of May. That means that we are going to vaccinate, provided we can get everybody interested, another 2.5 million people or so in the next three months.”

The state's daily vaccination report shows 760,585 Kentuckians have received a first dose of vaccine. Beshear noted that only three days into March, the state had already vaccinated more than 60,000 people.

A downed computer server interrupted shots at the regional sites in Bowling Green and the Kentucky Horse Park, but Beshear assured those affected that they would get vaccinated, and asked for their patience. 

He said the 157 new vaccine sites will bring the total to 567. They include one new regional site at Baptist Health LaGrange; 10 Kroger sites; 10 Walmart sites; and 136 Federal Pharmacy Program sites, which include Walgreens and independent pharmacies with the Good Neighbor Pharmacy brand.

Beshear often notes that health departments and independent pharmacies will play a special role in reaching hard-to-reach populations. That played out Thursday in Lexington. The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, with the help of the Lexington Senior Center and the Lexington Fire Department, gave more than 500 people age 70 and older their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine today, according to a post on Twitter. 

To find the closest vaccination site near you or to find transportation to that site, go to vaccine.ky.gov or call 855-598-2246. The website also allows you to get on a list to find out when appointments are available at new and existing sites across the state.

Daily numbers: Beshear announced 1,068 new virus cases Thursday, making the seven-day average 959, the first time it's been below 1,000 since Oct. 15. 

Calling it the "best news of the day," Beshear announced that the percentage of Kentuckians testing positive for the virus in the past seven days declined again, to 4.45% , the lowest since Oct. 12.

Kentucky's case rate still remains higher than most states, ranking 12th nationwide, according to The New York Times. On Thursday, the state reported its rate to be 17.2 cases per 100,000 population.

The "hot" county in the state, with a rate of 280 per 100,000 over the last seven days, is Lyon, partly because of an outbreak at the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Eddyville. The state Corrections Department's Covid-19 report says the prison has 135 cases among inmates and 18 among staff. 

Other counties with rates more than double the statewide rate were: Caldwell, 66.1; Robertson, 54.2; Clay, 49.5; Taylor, 47.7; McCreary, 43.9; Knox, 42.7; Adair, 41.7; Green, 40.5; Simpson, 34.6; and Russell, 32.7.

Covid-19 hospital numbers in Kentucky remained mostly stable, with 645 people hospitalized with the disease (down 35 from yesterday); 172 in intensive care (down 3); and 91 of those on a ventilator (up 12).  

The Lake Cumberland hospital readiness region is the only one using 80% or more of its intensive-care beds, at 91%, with 24% of them Covid-19 patients. 

Beshear reported 28 new Covid-19 deaths on Thursday, 25 confirmed and three probable. That brings the state's death toll to 4,732. The 14-day death average is down 0.7, to 25.6 deaths per day.

In long-term care facilities, 143 residents and 144 staff have an active case of the virus, with 12 residents and eight staff added to that list today. 

Beshear said 11 of the 28 deaths reported Thursday were from long-term care, and said even though the number of deaths in these facilities is declining, that doesn't mean Kentucky isn't still losing people. 

“We will continue to lose people until we’re fully out of the woods and everybody is vaccinated,” he said. “That’s the reason we’re not going to do what Texas or Mississippi has done. Those decisions will increase casualties when we just have maybe even a matter of months to go.”

Beshear was referring to Republican governors in Texas and Mississippi reopening businesses to full capacity and ending their states' mask mandates. Tuesday, he called the Texas decision "reckless." 

Memorial: Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman will host a virtual Covid-19 memorial on the Capitol grounds at 1 p.m. ET Saturday, March 6, to honor the 4,700 Kentuckians who have died from Covid-19 and to mark one year since the first positive case of the virus was detected in the state. The event will include faith leaders, musical performances and remembrances, and a memorial video to commemorate the year. The governor will also unveil long-term plans to honor those lost to the pandemic at the ceremony. Kentuckians can watch the memorial on Facebook and YouTube.

Politics: Asked if his discussions with legislators could short-circuit the court case about their efforts to limit his emergency powers, or if he was confident enough in his position to simply allow anticipated appeals to proceed, Beshear said he was confident in his position.

He didn't directly answer the first part of the question, but said his communications with legislators had improved, "primarily on other topics."

"There's only one commander-in-chief, and ultimately this has to be an executive-driven response," he said. "That doesn't mean that we're not willing to talk to legislative leaders, we are. And I hope that we can have those conversations moving into the future and my confidence in our position isn't going to prevent that from happening."

He added, "There have been good discussions, primarily on other topics, over the last several weeks. We've had a number of areas where we've been able to work together. You've seen some bipartisan bills pass, and I had a hand in some of those. And we've seen much better communication on a number of different areas that give me hope for a better relationships moving forward. " 

He said the pandemic has been stressful for everyone. "Hopefully, the quality of our discussions can continue, and we can build some better relationships coming out of a pandemic. Obviously, that's a two- sided deal, but we see, again, we see better reach-out all the way around right now." 

Weather effects: Beshear and his lieutenants spent a good bit of the briefing talking about devastation caused by ice storms and flooding and explaining the 30-day process to apply for federal disaster aid. 

"We spent so much of this last year working to protect each other and asking people to be healthy at home," said Beshear. " And now a whole lot of our families don't have a home." 

A key take-away was the importance of documenting the damage.  “For you homeowners and folks who have had personal property damage, document, take pictures,"  said Rocky Adkins, senior adviser to Beshear. “Make sure that that’s part of . . . our information that's sent in to Washington, D.C. to ask for that declaration . . . so we can have a full application that will go in for approval to come back and bring relief to our people who are hurting so bad.”

Beshear's news release said, "Twenty cities and 44 counties have declared a state of emergency. Over 194 county roads closed due to flooding. Three counties have reported power outages: Breathitt, Jackson and Owsley. Lee and Owsley counties each have one shelter open; Breathitt County has two."

In other pandemic news Thursday: 

• The 28 fatalities were a Boyle County woman, 88; a Carlisle County man, 66; a Daviess County woman, 87; a Fayette County woman, 96; a Floyd County man, 59; a Franklin County woman, 83; a Fulton County woman, 71; two Graves County women, 84 and 85; a Hardin County woman, 80; a Harlan County woman, 76; a Henderson County woman, 72; two Jefferson County women, 85 and 91; two Jefferson County men, 63 and 94; a Kenton County man, 61; a Larue County man, 83; a McCracken County man, 80; a Madison County woman, 96; a Marshall County woman, 78; a Meade County man, 60; two Nelson County women, 74 and 78; a Perry County man, 75; a Pulaski County man, 56; a Taylor County woman, 72; and a Warren County woman, 83.
• Counties with 10 or more new cases of the virus were Jefferson, 152; Lyon, 127; Fayette, 51; Boone, 47; Caldwell, 45; Kenton, 36; Oldham, 30; Campbell, 24; Rowan, Scott and Warren, 22; Hardin, 19; Daviess, 18; Franklin, Laurel and Marshall, 17; McCracken and Madison, 15; Bell, Grant and Shelby, 14; Jessamine, 11; and Barren, Harlan, Pike and Wayne, 10.
• The Lexington Herald-Leader reports on how long you should wait after a coronavirus infection to get vaccinated: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says such people should have no symptoms and meet the criteria to leave isolation, but other experts say that if you are not on a high-priority list for a vaccination, wait 90 days to give others without natural immunity a chance to go first.
• Some of the University of Louisville's best-known basketball players got a vaccine Wednesday to inspire others to get it too, Deborah Yetter reports for the Louisville Courier Journal. 
• Pregnant women in Kentucky are now eligible for vaccines, and officials from Norton Healthcare strongly recommend that they get it after the first trimester,  Lexie Ratterman reports for WDRB.
• The CDC and the Louisville health department recommend staying home this spring break, Gina Glaros reports for WDRB.
• Beshear extended an executive order on pharmaceuticals that allows all Kentucky pharmacists to dispense emergency 30-day refills on medications.
• Click here for the governor's press release with information about getting access to food for students via the Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer program, which has been extended through the school year; an update on unemployment insurance; and a weather update.

Coronavirus case numbers keep going down but state's 7-day rate is still among the top 10; positive-test rate is up slightly

New York Times map, adapted by Kentucky Health News, suggests Tennessee is a national leader in new cases of the novel coronavirus over the last seven days, but it's not even in the top 10, as Kentucky is (eighth), because its more populous counties have relatively low rates. Click the map to enlarge it. For the interactive version, with county-by-county data, click here.

By Melissa Patrick

Kentucky Health News

Gov. Andy Beshear announced 1,017 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, a number that is still high when compared with the whole of the pandemic, but that continues to creep down. 

“We have made incredible strides against this evil virus, but we can’t let up yet,” Beshear said in a news release. “Even Kentuckians who have been vaccinated should continue to mask up, social distance and keep any gatherings small. Team Kentucky, we are so close to getting through this together, but we must remain vigilant and run through the finish line to slow the spread and save as many lives as possible.”

The decline is part of a national trend. Kentucky's rate of new cases in the last seven days remains in the top 10 on The New York Times daily compilation, but its ranking has improved; it was eighth Wednesday, but ranked as high as third last week. 

Today's report brings Kentucky's seven-day average of new cases down to 1,256, the lowest since Oct. 24, when it was 1,255.

The statewide infection rate dropped 23.81 cases per 100,000 residents, putting Kentucky as a whole outside the "red zone" that begins at 25 per 100,000. However, many counties remain hotspots; those with rates more than double the statewide rate on the state's daily report are McCreary, with 48.1 per 100,000; Russell, 49.4; Owsley, 55; and Metcalfe, 61. A state map with county rates is here.

Only 43 Kentucky counties are in the red zone, which means they are still at high risk of community spread of the virus. These counties are asked to follow red zone recommendations to help limit the spread of the disease.

The contrary measure of the day was the share of Kentuckians testing positive for the virus in the last seven days. It rose to 6.99% from 6.58% yesterday. Health officials have said the goal is to get it below 5%. 

Herald-Leader chart (click it to enlarge) shows cases trending younger.

Daniel Desrochers of the Lexington Herald-Leader has updated his weekly table that shows the weekly rate of new cases in Kentucky by age groups. It shows that the highest rates per 100,000 people are in those between the age of 20 and 49, and that cases have trended younger recently, perhaps because people over 70 and residents and employees of long-term-care facilities had priority for vaccination.

Desrochers has also created a time-lapse map that shows how those incidence rates have risen and fallen over time, starting in July.

Kentucky hospitals have 934 Covid-19 patients (down one from Tuesday), 259 of them in intensive care (down 13), and 128 of those on ventilators (down 5). 

Two of the 10 hospital readiness regions have more than 80% of their ICU beds filled: the easternmost region, from Lee to Pike counties, 82.35%; and Lake Cumberland, 95.56%. 

Beshear said regional vaccination centers will stay open Thursday, though snow is expected. If it’s too difficult or dangerous for Kentuckians to reach their appointments, they should reschedule using the link in their appointment confirmation email, he has said.

Beshear announced 18 new deaths from Covid-19 on Wednesday, 16 confirmed and two probable. That brings the state's death toll to 4,336. The death averages are down again: over the last 14 days, the state has averaged 33.8 deaths per day, about where the average was four weeks ago.

In other coronavirus news Wednesday: 

• Today's 18 fatalities were a Boyd County man, 73; a Carter County woman, 76; a Christian County woman, 72; a Fayette County woman, 77; a Harlan County woman, 69; three Jefferson County women, 72, 87 and 93; two Jefferson County men, 73 and 89; a Kenton County man, 85; a Lincoln County man, 68; a Madison County man, 77; two Shelby County women, 83 and 86; a Union County man, 68; and two Wayne County men, 68 and 82. 
• Counties with more than 10 new cases were Jefferson, 242; Fayette, 105; Kenton, 54; Boone, 44; Campbell, 30; Madison, 30; McCracken and Warren, 26; Daviess, Hardin and Mason, 23; Scott, 18; Shelby, 17; Montgomery, 16; Barren, 15; Nelson and Taylor, 13; Franklin, Graves and Wayne, 12; and Bath, 10.
• MedPage Today talks to Angela Rasmussen, a virologist with Georgetown University's Center for Global Health Science and Security, about the new coronavirus strains and what that means for vaccination efforts, future mutations and herd immunity. 
  
• Want to know more about the positive-test rate? Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health offers an explainer.
• The Guardian and Kaiser Health News continues a year-long investigation into the deaths of U.S. health-care workers who have died from Covid-19 asking, "Did they have to die?" The latest update shows 3,448 of them have died of the disease.
• Snow and ice information is available at snowky.ky.gov and information on road conditions is available on goky.ky.gov. For today's update on winter storm safety, click here. 

State to get a 29% boost in vaccine supply next week; weekly shipments have increased 63% since vaccine rollouts began

Dept. for Public Health map, relabeled by Ky. Health News; for a larger version click on it.

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Kentucky's coronavirus vaccine supply will increase by 29 percent next week, and the amount being sent through the federal pharmacy program will double, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Tuesday.

The latest increase means the weekly vaccine supply will be about 87,860 doses, up from 53,800 when vaccine rollouts first began the week before President Joe Biden took office . Since the Biden administration took office, supply has increased 57%, Beshear said: "That is moving in the right direction." The overall increase since the start of the rollouts has been 63%.

Also, the federal pharmacy program, which serves 78 Walgreens branches and 47 independent pharmacies that are part of the Good Neighbor Pharmacy brand, is doubling its weekly doses from 13,000 to 26,000, Beshear said. 

The state vaccination report shows 542,394 Kentuckians have received their first "shot of hope," including more than 70,000 in the week beginning Feb. 9, Beshear said, "so this vaccination machine is working." 

Beshear said the Kroger regional vaccination sites are reopening, after closing because of the bad weather. He said the regional site in Frankfort is set to open Wednesday and those in Lexington, Covington and Bowling Green are to reopen on Thursday, despite a bad weather forecast.

"We're gonna do everything in our power to keep our regional sites open these next days," he said. "We've already had to reschedule too many appointments." 

Monday, Beshear announced that child-care workers would be moved to Phase 1B of vaccination, along with people 70 and older, first responders and K-12 personnel, who are being prioritized now. 

Beshear again called for patience from those who aren't yet able to get a vaccine, but did say Phase "1C is coming, and it's coming soon." This group includes all essential workers, anyone 60 and older and anyone 16 or older with certain health conditions. 

Daily numbers: Beshear reported 1,255 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the state's seven-day rolling average to 1,384, the lowest it's been since Oct. 25. 

This is also the first time a seven-day period has had fewer than 10,000 cases in initial, unadjusted reports since Oct. 26.

Beshear said five cases of more contagious variants of the virus have been reported in the state: one in Jefferson County and four in Northern Kentucky. He said he thinks the state can ward off a surge in cases from such variants because Kentuckians "are wearing masks better than ever" and because of the "urgency" the state has placed on vaccination. 

The percentage of people testing positive for the virus in the past seven days is stable, having increased by .01 point since Monday to 6.58%. 

At 935, hospitalizations for Covid-19 are the fewest since Oct. 29. There are 272 people in intensive care (down by 14 from yesterday) and 133 of those are on a ventilators (up by one). 

Two of the state's 10 hospital readiness regions have more than 80% of their intensive-care beds in use: the easternmost region, 81.6%, with 23.5% of those beds used by Covid-19 patients; and Lake Cumberland, 91.1%, with 26.7% used by Covid-19 patients. 

Beshear reported 27 more deaths from the disease, 24 of them confirmed and three of them probable. That brings the state's death toll to 4,318.

Despite Tuesday's spike, death averages went down. The average for the last 14 days is 36.1, down from 36.5 yesterday; the seven-day average is 27.4, down from 28.6.

Beshear said he would need to see a continued decrease in cases and the positive-test rate before rolling back some of the capacity restrictions he has placed on businesses to thwart spread of the virus.

“We want to make sure that when we’re doing a good job, that people continue those practices, but that we also recognize the good job that’s being done,” he said.

New York Times chart, labeled by Ky. Health News; click to enlarge

Despite its falling case numbers, Kentucky's rate of new cases continues to rank high among the states. A New York Times compilation shows Kentucky's rate in the last seven days is sixth highest. 

Beshear said only 63 of the state's 120 counties are in the red zone for counties averaging 25 or more new cases per 100,000 residents in the last seven days. 

The state's overall incidence rate is 27.83 per 100,000 residents. (Calculations of rates by the state and the Times differ.) Counties with twice that rate are McCreary, 59.7 per 100,000; Clinton, 61.5; Metcalfe, 62.4; Russell, 69.3; and Owsley, 74.4. The Times lists additional counties.

Asked by Kentucky Health News if the state is doing anything to help the hottest counties bring their rate down, Beshear said those counties are still asked to follow the red-zone recommendations, but at this time the state has not targeted any guidance on them. 

He added that the state is willing to work with any local government that asks for help, and with fewer red counties on the list, some form of direct intervention might be something the state could consider. 

In other coronavirus news Tuesday: 

• The 27 fatalities were two Barren County women, 61 and 91; a Bath County woman, 71; two Boone County men, 54 and 65; a Boyd County woman, 70; two Daviess County women, 57 and 78; a Daviess County man, 67; an Edmonson County man, 63; a Fayette County man, 65; a Harlan County woman, 92; a Harlan County man, 66; a Jefferson County woman, 71; three Kenton County women, 76, 83 and 90; a Madison County woman, 69; a Mason County woman, 72; a Mercer County man, 81; an Ohio County woman, 65; a Powell County man, 87; a Pulaski County woman, 69; a Rowan County man, 79; a Shelby County man, 74; a Warren County woman, 86; and a Wayne County woman, 67.
• Counties with 10 or more new cases were Jefferson, 217; Fayette, 129; Kenton, 56; Boone, 51; Hardin, 50; Warren, 42; Shelby, 41; Daviess, 34; Campbell, 30; Nelson, 27; Clark, 25; Christian, 24; Bell and Montgomery, 22; Bullitt and Madison, 21; Rowan, 20; McCracken, Pike and Taylor, 15; Grant, 14; Franklin, Henderson and Knott, 13; Letcher and Logan, 12; Jessamine and Perry, 11; and Barren, Estill, Johnson, Knox and Scott, 10.
• In long-term care, 249 residents and 186 staff have an active case of the virus, with seven new resident cases and 13 new staff cases announced today. Beshear attributed five more deaths of long-term-care residents to Covid-19, bringing the total to 2,229. 
• The Louisville Courier Journal provides an easy-to-read list of the 19 regional Covid-19 vaccination sites and their addresses. Sarah Ladd also reports on what to know if your vaccination appointment was canceled because of weather. 
• Snow and ice information is available at snowky.ky.gov and information on road conditions is available on goky.ky.gov.
• Tenants in most counties can apply for rent and utility assistance to cover their past-due and future bills through the Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund at teamkyhherf.ky.gov. To apply in Fayette County, go to covid19renterhelp.org; to apply in Jefferson County, go to stopmyeviction.org. Beshear said tenants and landlords should both apply.  
• WKYT-TV offers a Question and Answer page on its website that answers all kinds of questions about the coronavirus vaccine. Today's Q&A addresses caregivers, Walmart vaccine sign-ups, Phase 1C vaccination and pharmacy programs. 

Kentucky to get 6% more vaccine doses next week; meanwhile, case numbers and positive-test rate continue to trend down

Ky. Health News graph; new-case numbers are initial, unadjusted reports; click it to enlarge.

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Gov. Andy Beshear praised Kentuckians for their efforts in thwarting the spread of the novel coronavirus, announcing that case numbers and the positive-test rate keep trending down, and the federal government is sending more vaccine. 

"We are seeing really good compliance out there. Keep it up," Beshear said. "Right now you're showing that we can win. We can decrease cases just through our behavior, and this is at the same time that we're vaccinating, so all that's good."

Beshear announced 2,339 new cases of the virus, bringing the state's seven-day rolling average to 2,032, which is 15 less than Monday.

The share of Kentuckians testing positive for the virus in the past seven days dropped again, to 7.66 percent. "This is a good thing," he said. 

Asked if the state's case numbers are lower because fewer people are getting tested, Beshear said testing numbers are in a "generally good place." In addition, he said the decline in the positivity rate supports the low case numbers. He said it's too early for vaccines to have had an impact on case numbers.

While Kentucky's case numbers have generally declined for a month, so have other states', so the state ranks seventh in new cases in the last seven days.   

Beshear said he had not heard of any more variants of the virus being reported, beyond the one today in Jefferson County. 

He cautioned that the existence of these highly contagious variants doesn't necessarily mean case numbers will go up because wearing a mask and social distancing and the other public health strategies are "still pretty effective." 

"The variants make everybody nervous," he said, "but they don't change the game plan and what it's going to take to protect ourselves until we're out of this and what we do to get out of it in terms of vaccinations."

Kentucky Health News graph; click on it to enlarge.
Daily listings of deaths are made after cases are reviewed.

Beshear said the number of Covid-19 deaths is still "stubbornly high" after he announced 35 more, 16 from Louisville. That took the state's death toll to 4,126. The 14-day death average is the same as yesterday, 45.1 per day. 

Also, all of the hospital numbers are up, with 1,204 Covid-19 patients in Kentucky hospitals (up 41 from yesterday); 282 in intensive care (up eight) and 148 of those on ventilators (up six). Beshear said these increases are within normal variations. 

For the first time since the state started reporting hospital capacity on a regular basis, none of the hospital readiness regions reported ventilator use, ICU use or overall patient numbers above 80% capacity.

Schools: The state's K-12 school dashboard shows that 182 schools have never reported their case or quarantine numbers, and last week 401 of them did not. Schools have been asked to self-report daily.

Asked about that, Beshear first commended schools that regularly report, saying they are "living their values of being transparent." He voiced disappointment in the rest, "because what they do is they remove the real information . . . that they need" in deciding whether to send a child to school or not, especially as the state works toward getting every school open to in-person learning in some capacity.

"It's highly disappointing that schools would not be reporting, and I would not feel safe with my children going to the ones that do not," he said. "That would not give me confidence that those schools are doing everything it takes to battle Covid because they're not doing everything it takes for public health and local health departments and others to know the situation in their schools."

Asked what he is doing about it, he said the state is encouraging them to participate, and "that's probably where it's going to be." He added, "I think we should all be disappointed that there are schools that claim they can keep our children safe, but won't show us the data that backs it up."

Last week, 1,295 students and 523 staff tested positive for the virus, resulting in 5,197 students and 738 staff being quarantined, according to the dashboard.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to issue guidance on school reopenings this week, CNN reports.

Click here for the Kentucky Department of Education's considerations for reopening Kentucky schools after vaccination. 

Vaccines: Beshear announced that the federal government is increasing Kentucky's vaccine supply for the third time in three weeks, this time by 6 percent. He said that means the state will get 71,675 doses next week, up 28% from the 56,175 three weeks ago. This week, the state received 68,475 doses. 

"It's not enough, but it's great," the governor said. 

At least 452,532 Kentuckians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the state's daily vaccination report.

Beshear said the state's larger vaccine sites will likely move to phase 1C, which includes people 60 and older, people with high-risk conditions and all essential workers, when they find that slots are not being filled up by those in the higher priority groups, which means that some of the regional centers may move to that phase earlier than others. 

In anticipation of severe winter weather expected through Thursday night, Beshear said the regional vaccination sites at the Kentucky Horse Park, Bowling Green and Covington will be closed Thursday to ensure the safety of all staff, volunteers and vaccine recipients.

“If you have waited a long time to get this appointment, I am really sorry,” Beshear said. “But I also don’t want to put you out on the roads with thick amounts of ice. . . . We will get you vaccinated.” He said the appointments will be automatically rescheduled no later than the following week. 

The University of Kentucky said it would keep close its vaccination site inside Kroger Field open, despite due to the weather, and encouraged people to keep their appointments if possible. UK also encouraged them to dress warmly since they may stand outside for a few minutes before checking in. (Updated 2/10)

Adam Mather, inspector general of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, gave an update on vaccinations in long-term-care facilities. Under a federal contract, CVS Health and Walgreens manage that for all states but West Virginia, and are scheduled to offer three vaccine clinics in each facility. 

Mather said CVS has completed its second clinics in 88% of long-term-care facilities and 79% of assisted-living facilities. He said Walgreens is 28% into its third clinics in long-term care and 90% through second clinics in assisted living. 

He added that the state is also vaccinating Supports for Community Living residents, a program that helps 3,524 people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. He said more than 1,110 have received a shot from Walgreens, local health departments or other providers. 

Mather said the state is working on a program for health departments to vaccine seniors who live in lower-income congregate housing.

On Feb. 5, the Lexington Herald Leader reported that an estimated 45% of long-term-care employees have received the vaccine, compared to an estimated 73% of residents.

Marianne Lee Snowden was 29.

Memorial: Beshear honored Marianne Lee Snowden of Walton who died at age 29 on Jan. 14 at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Florence from Covid-19 complications. Beshear said she was actively involved in NorthKey Community Care in Williamstown and also in the Special Olympics, where she loved cheerleading, running track, bowling and playing softball. 

“Marianne was sick for 11 days before she passed, begging to go home every day," Beshear said, quoting her mother: "If you don’t think Covid is bad, it’s worse than you think. My daughter passed away from it. Gone almost four weeks and I don’t know what to do with myself. Send prayers, wear your masks and keep your distance." Beshear said, "To the Snowdens, we are so sorry for your loss." 

In other coronavirus news Tuesday: 

• Today's fatalities were two men from Barren County, 89 and 91; two men from Boone County, 88 and 92; a Boyle County woman, 97; a Breckinridge County man, 84; a Fayette County man, 57; a Graves County man, 72; two Hardin County women, 75 and 89; two Hardin County men, 67 and 70; a Hopkins County woman, 68; a Hopkins County man, 75; 10 Jefferson County women, 58, 65, 70, 74, 75, 76, 77, 87, 92 and 94; six Jefferson County men, 74, 75, 76, 77, 86 and 93; a Kenton County woman, 95; a Larue County woman, 76; a Nelson County man, 68; a Washington County woman, 102; and a Washington County man, 61.
• Counties with 10 or more new cases were Jefferson, 396; Fayette, 116; Kenton, 115; Boone, 92; Madison, 82; Laurel and Warren, 66; Pulaski, 64; Hardin, 61; Daviess, 58; Campbell, 53; Nelson, 46; Pike, 45; Oldham, 42; Taylor, 38; McCreary, 33; Barren, 30; Bullitt, Russell and Scott, 28; Allen, 27; Grant and Knox, 25; Christian, 24; Henderson, 21; Caldwell, Hopkins, Jackson and Whitley, 20; Marshall and Shelby, 19; Clinton, Franklin and Marion, 18; Lawrence, 17; Mason, 16; Bell, 15; Boyd, Green and McCracken, 14; Clay and Grayson, 13; Jessamine, Livingston, Logan, Owen, Perry and Trigg, 12; Anderson, Graves and Wayne, 11; Floyd, Magoffin, Meade, Pendleton and Simpson, 10.
• In long-term care, there are 14 new cases among residents and 15 among staff; 303 active resident cases, and 204 active staff cases. The state attributed 12 more long-term-care residents' deaths to Covid-19, bringing that death toll to 2,205. 
• The British B117 variant of the virus has been identified in Jefferson County, WDRB reports. "Between that and Super Bowl and people tired of staying home, these numbers can change direction at any minute," Dr. Sarah Moyer, Louisville's chief health strategist, said at a news conference. She said the variant does not produce more severe outcomes, but is much more contagious, "so if before, if you would have infected one or two people if you had Covid, now it's a greater number, like four or six."
• Five weeks into the high-school basketball season and five to go before playoffs, WKYT reports that 16% of games were cancelled in the first week, increasing to 24%, 35% and 37% in subsequent weeks. In week 5, it was back down to 29%. KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett told WKYT  that "It's gone about as we expected" and that most cancellations were the result of quarantines following a positive test.
• As teachers' vaccinations begin to wrap up, new state guidance says Kentucky schools don't have to offer virtual work if teachers refuse a shot, Valarie Honeycutt Spears reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. The requirement to offer accommodations extends until the eligible employee is at least seven calendar days past getting their final vaccine dose, and will be offered to those who refuse the vaccine for medical reasons, Honeycutt reports. A spokeswoman for the Kentucky Department of Education told her that some schools may decide to let staff without medical exemptions who don't get vaccinated continue to work remotely.  
• UK is looking for 200 adult volunteers for a trial to test the efficacy of getting two shots of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, instead of the currently recommended single dose.  Click here if you are interested in participating in the study. 
• Matt Mencarini reports for the Louisville Courier Journal on the challenges in Kentucky's prisons and jails that have been hit hard by the coronavirus. Medical experts told the paper that the best tools for them would be to provide vaccinations and to reduce their populations. Early in the pandemic, Kentucky reduced its inmate population, but at this time, inmates are not included in any priority list for vaccines. 
• Corinne Boyer of Ohio Valley ReSource reports on the challenges of staying in addiction treatment while staying safe from Covid-19.

Feds give state $7 million to help deal with lingering behavioral-health impacts of 2019 flooding in 21 Eastern Kentucky counties

Federal grant will help three southeastern regions overlaid by dot pattern. For larger image, click on it.

Kentucky is getting a $7 million federal grant to expand behavioral-health services in 21 Appalachian counties to help deal with the effects of severe weather in the region last February and March.

“Many counties in Eastern Kentucky suffered terrible loss in 2019 and continue to experience the impact of the flooding and mudslides there,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news release.

The grant will fund crisis services, mental-health and substance-use-disorder treatment, recovery services and other related supports to about 3,000 people affected by the disasters in areas served by three community mental-health centers: Mountain Comprehensive Care, Kentucky River Community Care, and Cumberland River Behavioral Health.

“Natural disasters have a serious and often lasting impact on the mental health of communities, who experience large scale destruction, home loss, injuries, and often deaths,” Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander said in the release. “All of these things, coupled with the fear of disaster happening again, can take a toll on mental health. It is critical we have resources to adequately support our crisis response mechanisms in affected areas to assure we can mitigate the psychological impact of these often life-altering, tragic events.” 

Efforts the grant will fund include:

• Coordination and assessment of crisis-response capacity and behavioral-health services and development of a comprehensive plan to address those needs.
• Prevention, counseling, mental-health and crisis services in schools.
• Community education and outreach.
• Mental-health and substance-use-disorder services for uninsured or under-insured adults, and expanded access to treatment.
• Recovery support including housing, transportation and job services.
• Support for quick response teams or enhanced crisis-response teams for assertive community outreach and engagement for individuals and families in crisis.
• Expanded telehealth services.

The money will go from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to the state Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities.

Dust from Sahara could pose a health threat through weekend

Video from CNN shows forecast for Saharan dust cloud through Sunday evening.

Dust from the Sahara Desert has made sunsets west of Louisville spectacular in the last few days, but we're about to get too much of a good thing.

Kentucky Health Commissioner Steven Stack "warned Kentuckians that air quality in the state may be poor this weekend and into next week" as the "enormous cloud of dry and dusty air" moves across the South, a state press release said.

The Weather Channel said air quality in the Louisville and Henderson-Owensboro areas on Saturday would be a problem for sensitive people.

Gov. Andy Beshear said in the release, “We absolutely need to be cautious this weekend and next week, monitor the air quality index in our area, and if needed, limit our time outside. We’ve already shown that we can come together to fight a global pandemic for months, so I know we can take the steps needed to protect ourselves and our loved ones over one week.”

Saharan dust "is an annual phenomenon in the late spring, summer and early fall," the release said, but this one "is unusually large. It is one of the thickest on record and nearly 5,000 miles long. That means it could have a significant negative impact on air quality when it moves over Kentucky. Poor air quality can aggravate those suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD. It can also pose health risks for seniors and young children."

Stack said, “Fortunately, unlike covid-19, this is a short-term issue, and the masks most Kentuckians are already wearing will also help protect them from inhaling dust. But this is still a serious risk for our youngest and oldest residents, as well as those with any respiratory issues. We need to be especially careful this weekend about spending extended time outdoors. Kentuckians should consistently check the air quality in their ZIP code at airnow.gov and watch for any changes in the sky’s color and visibility.”

The dust may irritate the eyes, lungs and throat and inhibit breathing. The state offered these tips for protection:

• Pay attention to local air quality reports at https://www.airnow.gov/ and watch for news or health warnings about dust particles in your area. Pay attention to public health messages and take extra safety measures such as avoiding spending time outdoors.
• Continue to wear the protective mask you are using to help prevent the spread of covid-19. The mask will also help prevent exposure to dust particles if worn correctly.
• Keep windows and doors closed unless it is very hot outside. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent dust from getting inside. Seek shelter elsewhere if you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed.
• Follow your doctor's advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

The release said the state will "monitor the Saharan dust plume and if required, disseminate additional public health advisories and guidance to protect our fellow Kentuckians."