COVID-19 variant from the United Kingdom confirmed in Kentucky, Beshear says

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two cases of the COVID-19 variant from the United Kingdom have been confirmed in Kentucky, according to a news release from Gov. Andy Beshear's office.

The governor did not say where in the commonwealth the coronavirus variant was confirmed. He also reported 35 more deaths in which the virus was a contributing factor alongside 2,714 new cases.

"Public health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack is going to talk about (the variant) more (Wednesday)," Beshear said in the news release. "The U.K. variant does spread more aggressively, but he’ll take us through all the implications of having this strain here."

In a video update shared to his YouTube page, Beshear called the arrival of the coronavirus variant "tough but expected news."

"We knew we’d see it," he added.

The United Kingdom variant was first confirmed in the United States on Dec. 29. It was found in a Colorado man in his 20s with no recent travel history, according to the Associated Press. Indiana identified its first cases of the variant on Jan. 11.

Test swabs and specimen tubes sit on a table at a COVID-19 testing site — FILE - In this May 13, 2020 file photo, test swabs and specimen tubes sit on a table at a COVID-19 testing site. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Other COVID-19 variants have been found in Brazil and South Africa. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there is no evidence at this time that the variants cause more severe illness or increased risk of death. However, reports are emerging that the strain from the U.K. could be more deadly.

"But that's not the official word from the CDC as of yet," said Dr. Mark Burns, an infectious disease specialist with the University of Louisville.

Burns told WDRB News on Monday that, "according to the information we have right now," the COVID-19 vaccines currently being administered around the country are working against variants in the virus.

"We're working with the assumption the current (Emergency Use Authorization) approved vaccinations will prevent infection with these variants, but it takes a little time to figure that out," said Dr. Paul Schulz, an infectious disease specialist at Norton Healthcare.

New variants of the coronavirus have been seen almost since the virus was first detected in China nearly a year ago. It is common for viruses to undergo minor changes as they reproduce and move through a population.

Beshear: Kentucky getting 17% boost in vaccine supply from federal government

On a call with members of President Joe Biden's COVID-19 response team, Beshear said he was told the state would see a 17% increase in its vaccine supply as part of a surge in deliveries nationwide.

Beshear said the Biden administration is also guaranteeing a minimum amount of vaccine supply for three straight weeks.

"One of the tough things that we've been dealing with is only knowing on a Tuesday what we would have the next week and not knowing what we were having weeks after," the governor said in his video update. "This is gonna help us plan, which is gonna help our providers out there be able to plan.

"It's gonna help us to be able to sign more people up for their appointments knowing we will have a certain amount in the future," he added.

COVID-19 vaccine (generic) — WDRB file photo

The boost from the federal government comes as the state is planning to have regional mass vaccination centers online by Feb. 1 through a partnership with Kroger. Beshear is expected to announce the locations of the regional centers Thursday, when appointments will begin to be accepted.

Beshear has said those centers will be able to provide shots to anyone eligible for Phase 1C or above in the state's vaccination plan. That includes anyone age 60 or older, anyone age 16 or older with high-risk preexisting health conditions and all essential workers as defined by the CDC.

Health care professionals as of Tuesday had administered 319,608 doses of coronavirus vaccine statewide, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health's vaccination dashboard.

Kentucky's positivity rate continues decline amid 'rough' stretch in virus death tolls

The state's positivity rate, which measures the proportion of coronavirus tests returning positive, fell for an eighth consecutive day from 9.93% on Monday to 9.63% on Tuesday — the lowest it has been in 2021.

However, Beshear said the state continues to see "really rough death counts" stemming from an escalation of cases after Christmas and New Year's.

Kentucky state Capitol dome — The dome of the Kentucky state Capitol is lit green to remember those who have died of COVID-19 and their families.
Eric Crawford

The 35 deaths reported Tuesday bring Kentucky to 3,495 reported since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. The state has reported a record 833 deaths during the month of January.

Among the victims Tuesday were three women, ages 72, 78 and 86, and a 92-year-old man from Jefferson County. According to data from Kentucky Public Health, more than half of the Kentuckians who have died from the coronavirus were age 70 or older.

Of the 2,714 new cases Tuesday, 440 were confirmed in Jefferson County, according to Kentucky Public Health. Data released Tuesday show 111 of the state's 120 counties experiencing a "critical" spread of the virus.

As of Tuesday, 1,566 Kentuckians were hospitalized with COVID-19, according to Kentucky Public Health, while 391 were being treated for the virus in intensive care units. More than 220 patients were on ventilators.

For most people, COVID-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. The vast majority of people recover. Of Kentucky's 350,528 confirmed cases reported since March, at least 41,878 have recovered, according to Kentucky Public Health.

But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal.

To find a COVID-19 testing location near you, click here.

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