Health officials confirmed 1,306 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday alongside 51 more deaths in which the virus was a contributing factor. 

Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday said the coming week will be a "very good test" of the state's vaccination system. 

Phase 1C includes: anyone age 60 and older, anyone age 16 or older with high-risk preexisting health conditions and all essential workers as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

As of Saturday, 921 Kentuckians were hospitalized with COVID-19, according to state health officials. 

Kentucky received 71,675 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for the week beginning Tuesday, according to data provided by the governor.

The move is in line with a recent change to CDC guidance, according to the governor. 

In total, 4,175 Kentuckians have died from the virus since it was first reported in the state in March 2020.

Black Kentuckians have received about 4.3% of the state's allocated vaccine doses, according to the governor. 

It took the Kentucky just 23 days to reach 4,000-plus deaths after surpassing 3,000 on Jan. 14.

As of Saturday, 1,604 Kentuckians were hospitalized with COVID-19, while 403 were being treated for the virus in intensive care units.