Margaret Brennan of CBS News interviewed Gov. Andy Beshear on "Face the Nation" Sunday. |
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Beshear says new vaccine is 'game changer' and the end of the pandemic is in sight, but masks and distancing are still needed
Bills for local control of tobacco haven't even been assigned to committees, though advocates say they would pass on the floor
Kentucky Health News
With less than two weeks left in the 2021 legislative session, bills to let local governments regulate tobacco products are among the many that legislative leaders haven't even assigned to a committee.
"I think that we've got a lot on our plate and maybe they think this is bigger than it really is," she said. "All we're trying to do is to give local cities and counties control over their marketing and distribution of tobacco products."
Meanwhile, electronic cigarettes are addicting a whole new generation of youth to nicotine, with one in four Kentucky high-school students and nearly one in six middle schoolers regularly using e-cigarettes.
McClain is also director of communications and public affairs for the Kentucky Retail Federation. Sonka reports that this group was the 10th highest legislative lobbying spender in January, at $14,418.
Raque Adams said she didn't expect the bill to move on the Senate side this year and certainly not before the House moved on it. She added, "I clearly support eliminating that preemption" and said she would sponsor the bill again next session if it does not pass during this one.
Betsy Clemons of the Hazard-Perry County Chamber of Commerce, says, "Local tobacco control is so important, especially in Eastern Kentucky where we have a major focus on the importance of a healthy workforce as well as improving the health and lives of our youth and citizens in rural Kentucky."
Union County dentist Laura Jones, who is part of the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition, says, I support "giving communities the tools they need to improve oral health and reduce health disparities by taking control of local tobacco" marketing.
Chandler said of legislators, "We recognize that they've got a lot of things on their plate. . . . they've got a lot of things that are higher priorities than this. But all we ask is that they assign it to a committee and let the committee chair hear it and then, of course, let it go to the floor."
Saturday, February 27, 2021
New virus cases keep going down, but still 10th in U.S.; share of Kentuckians testing positive rises after falling for eight days
New York Times table, adapted by Kentucky Health News |
It's National Children's Dental Health Month, time to think about improving the poor oral health of Kentucky's children
Chair, Kentucky Oral Health Coalition
It is no secret that Kentucky has historically had a poor reputation when it comes to our dental health. In a recent study ranking states with the best and worst dental health, the state ranked 41st in the nation in indicators of dental wellness. We have among the lowest dentists per capita, highest sugar-sweetened beverages consumption, and highest percentage of adult smokers – all contributing factors to poor oral health outcomes.
This is a reality that dental providers and advocates have grappled with for decades. And this is the reality that motivates the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition and its diverse membership in its collaborative oral health campaign designed to educate parents, activate policymakers, and inspire health professionals, as well as engage the public to create optimal oral health for all.
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month – a time when dental health providers and advocates promote the importance of establishing good oral hygiene habits early in life, needs around access to dental care and coverage, and ways to improve health outcomes across the lifespan.
Dr. Stephanie Poynter |
For children, when experiencing prolonged and persistent dental pain, it is difficult for them to develop the skills they need to learn. Once in school, students with poor dental health are three times more likely to be absent than other students. Additionally, children with poor oral health care experience higher rates of emergency room visits and have less promising job prospects as adults compared to children who receive appropriate oral health care.
The bottom line: when teeth are healthy and pain-free, it is easier for children to focus and listen, play and learn, and grow and thrive.
A recent survey of Kentucky parents and oral health, primary care, and school professionals conducted by KOHC indicated that the Commonwealth needs increased education around dental care early in a child’s life from pediatricians, school professionals, and parents as well as improved access to affordable dental care across the state for there to be real progress in health outcomes. Here are a few urgent recommendations for action in the statehouse to the schoolhouse to your house:
• Promoting oral health literacy campaigns to teach the basics of oral health.
• Integrating oral health services into doctor’s visits to prevent cavities in children, pregnancy complications in women, and oral health infection in adults.
• Ensuring all children entering Kindergarten have a dental screening/exam.
• Establishing school-based health programs and utilizing the Expanded Care Services policy in schools to increase access to care for children right where they are learning.
• Increasing access to care in rural and urban communities by leveraging tele-dentistry to detect oral health concerns – a practice that has increased in use during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Sustaining state funding for Medicaid and Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP), and prioritizing investments focused on closing the remaining gap in child health coverage.
Oral health is much more than a bright, beautiful smile.
It takes establishing good brushing and flossing routines early in life and maintaining regular dental check-ups across the lifespan. It takes more equitable access to dental care right in our communities. It takes a commitment from state leaders to allocate funds for Medicaid and KCHIP programs and to address persistent racial disparities in coverage and access so that every child and their family can access the health care they need. It requires healthy foods and safe drinking water in every neighborhood and county.
It takes all of us to recognize that oral health IS health and that it must be prioritized in our homes, in our communities, and in our state budget. Only then will we see progress in that poor oral health ranking that has burdened Kentucky for far too long.
Dr. Stephanie Poynter is dental director at Louisville-based Family Health Centers Inc.
Friday, February 26, 2021
Nearly all metrics of the pandemic in Ky. are going the right way, with new single-dose vaccine likely to be approved this weekend
A flag is placed behind the state Capitol for each Kentucky Covid-19 victim. (Photo by Melissa Patrick) |
Two of the state's 10 hospital readiness regions are using at least 80% of their intensive care beds: the easternmost region, from Lee to Pike counties, 81.6%; and Lake Cumberland, 93.3%.
- Today's 30 fatalities were a Carlisle County man, 79; two Clark County women, 65 and 87;a Daviess County woman, 84; three Daviess County men, 53, 76 and 83; a Floyd County man, 75; a Garrard County man, 73; six Jefferson County women, 53, 55, 63, 66, 67 and 86; five Jefferson County men, 60, 66, 70, 72 and 83; a Lincoln County man, 70; a McCreary County man, 74; two Mercer County women, 63 and 77; a Mercer County man, 74; a Perry County man, 72; two Pulaski County men, 66,71; a Rockcastle County man, 70; and a Rowan County man, 78.
- Counties with 10 or more new cases were Jefferson, 216; Fayette, 80; Kenton, 74; Boone, 49; Warren, 36; Campbell, 29; Scott, 27; Pike and Taylor, 25; Carter, 22; Perry, 21; Adair, 20; Grant and Whitley, 20; Hardin and Madison, 19; Daviess, 17; McCracken and Oldham, 16; Knox, 15; Johnson, 14; Caldwell and Pulaski, 13; Bath, 12; Laurel and Shelby, 11; and Jessamine, Lawrence and Russell, 10.
- In long-term care facilities, 167 residents and 162 staff have an active case of the coronavirus, with nine residents and 11 staff added to that list today.
- As Kentucky moves to the 1C category for coronavirus vaccinations on Monday, March 1, which includes essential workers, people 60 and older and those 16 and older with certain health conditions, Deborah Yetter of the Louisville Courier Journal reports that many 70 and older are still trying to get a shot. She writes, "Of the about 100,000 people in the [Louisville] metro area 70 or older, 44,853, or fewer than half, have been vaccinated, according to the local health department. Kentucky has about 500,000 people over 70 statewide, with about 278,000 vaccinated." Yetter also expands on the many challenges people are finding to get vaccinated in a system that is not centralized.
- Health departments in Eastern Kentucky provide Hazard's WYMT-TV with a report that includes new coronavirus cases and related deaths for each of the departments or districts.
- Click here for this week's federal Coronavirus Task Force report.
- The governor renewed his executive order requiring face coverings for another 30 days, says the release.
- In September and November 2020, direct observation at six universities with mask mandates, including the University of Pikeville, found that 90% of those observed wore masks correctly, including covering the mouth, nose and chin, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. "Among 17,200 observed persons, 85.5% wore masks, with 89.7% of those persons wearing the mask correctly (overall correct mask use: 76.7%). Among persons observed indoors, 91.7% wore masks correctly. The proportion correctly wearing masks indoors varied by mask type, from 96.8% for N95-type masks and 92.2% for cloth masks to 78.9% for bandanas, scarves, and similar face coverings," says the report.
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Beshear says 119 new vaccine sites will bring total to 410; state's positive-test rate keeps falling; other metrics remain mostly stable
State Department for Public Health map, adapted by Kentucky Health News; click it to enlarge. |
“We want all Kentuckians who wish to get vaccinated to be able to do so, and we do not want transportation to be a barrier,” Coleman said.
Asked when church capacities could be raised above 50%, Beshear noted that the limit has long been only advisory, and that if the state continues in the direction its on, "There is a lot of new opportunity."
- The 43 fatalities reported Thursday were a Bell County man, 73; a Boone County man, 95; an Elliott County man, 78; a Fayette County man, 91; two Floyd County women, 59 and 80; a Floyd County man, 72; a Graves County man, 75; a Hardin County woman, 60; a Henry County man, 70; a Hopkins County woman, 21; four Jefferson County women, 70, 76, 78 and 81; seven Jefferson County men, 57, 63, 79, 79, 81, 90 and 97; a Kenton County woman, 95; two Larue County men, 73 and 79; a Lawrence County woman, 67; a McCracken County woman, 78; a McCracken County man, 79; a McCreary County man, 62; two Madison County men, 84 and 85; a Marshall County man, 65; two Meade County men, 72 and 87; a Menifee County man, 49; a Nelson County woman, 85; two Nelson County men, 89 and 93; a Perry County man, 72; a Pulaski County man, 58; a Shelby County woman, 71; a Spencer County man, 87; and a Taylor County man, 72.
- Counties with more than 10 new cases were Jefferson, 220; Caldwell, 187; Fayette, 78; Boone, 43; Daviess, 40; Hardin and Scott, 37; Kenton, 36; Warren, 34; Bullitt, 30; Jessamine, 28; Laurel and Madison, 27; Johnson, 26; Whitley, 24; Taylor, 19; McCracken, Montgomery, Pike and Shelby, 18; Clark, 17; Adair and Christian, 16; Barren and McCreary, 15; Bell and Campbell, 14; Floyd, 13; Marshall, Nelson, Oldham and Perry, 12; and Knox, 11.
- In long-term-care facilities, 174 residents and 168 staff have active cases of the virus, with nine residents and 11 staffers newly positive. Beshear attributed 15 more deaths to the virus in the facilities, bringing their Covid-19 death toll to 2,258.
- Click here for more information about unemployment insurance in the governor's news release.
Doctors tell patients to 'take their exercise pills' because physical activity is good for your mind, not just for your body
Wendy Suzuki, a neuroscientist at New York University, gives a TED talk.
As with many other physicians, recommending physical activity to patients was just a doctor chore for me – until a few years ago. That was because I myself was not very active. Over the years, as I picked up boxing and became more active, I got first-hand experience of positive impacts on my mind. I also started researching the effects of dance and movement therapies on trauma and anxiety in refugee children, and I learned a lot more about the neurobiology of exercise.
I am a psychiatrist and neuroscientist researching the neurobiology of anxiety and how our interventions change the brain. I have begun to think of prescribing exercise as telling patients to take their “exercise pills.” Now knowing the importance of exercising, almost all my patients commit to some level of exercise, and I have seen how it benefits several areas of their life and livelihood.
We all have heard details on how exercise improves musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, metabolic and other aspects of health. What you may not know is how this happens within the brain.
How exercise improves the brain.
Brain biology and growth
Working out regularly really does change the brain biology, and it is not just “go walk and you will just feel better.” Regular exercise, especially cardio, does change the brain. Contrary to what some may think, the brain is a very plastic organ. Not only are new neuronal connections formed every day, but also new cells are generated in important areas of the brain. One key area is the hippocampus, which is involved in learning and memory and regulating negative emotions.
A molecule called brain-derived neurotrophic factor helps the brain produce neurons, or brain cells. A variety of aerobic and high-intensity interval training exercises significantly increase BDNF levels. There is evidence from animal research that these changes are at epigenetic level, which means these behaviors affect how genes are expressed, leading to changes in the neuronal connections and function.
Moderate exercise also seems to have anti-inflammatory effects, regulating the immune system and excessive inflammation. This is important, given the new insight neuroscience is gaining into the potential role of inflammation in anxiety and depression.
Finally, there is evidence for the positive effects of exercise on the neurotransmitters – brain chemicals that send signals between neurons – dopamine and endorphins. Both of these are involved in positive mood and motivation.
Researchers also have examined the effects of exercise on measurable brain function and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Exercise improves memory function, cognitive performance and academic achievement. Studies also suggest regular exercise has a moderate effect on depressive symptoms even comparable to psychotherapy. For anxiety disorders, this effect is mild to moderate in reducing anxiety symptoms. In a study that I conducted with others among refugee children, we found a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and PTSD among children who attended eight to 12 weeks of dance and movement therapies.
Exercise could even potentially desensitize people to physical symptoms of anxiety. That is because of the similarity between bodily effects of exercise, specifically high-intensity exercise, and those of anxiety, including shortness of breath, heart palpitation and chest tightness. Also, by reducing baseline heart rate, exercise might lead to signaling of a calmer internal physical environment to the brain.
It is important to note that the majority of studies examined the effects of exercise in isolation and not in combination with other effective treatments of clinical anxiety and depression, such as psychotherapy and medication. For the same reason, I am not suggesting exercise as a replacement for necessary mental health care of depression or anxiety, but as part of it, and for prevention.
There are other perks besides the neurobiological impacts of exercise. When going out for a walk, one gets more exposure to sunlight, fresh air and nature. One of my patients befriended a neighbor during her regular walks, leading to regular taco Tuesdays with that new friend. I have made some great friends at my boxing gym, who are not only my motivators, but also a great supporting social network. One might pick a dog as their running mate, and another might meet a new date, or enjoy the high energy at the gym. Exercise can also function as a mindfulness practice and a respite from common daily stressors, and from our electronic devices and TV.
By increasing energy and fitness level, exercise can also improve self-image and self-esteem.
Practical ways for a busy life
So how can you find time to exercise, especially with all the additional time demands of the pandemic, and the limitations imposed by the pandemic such as limited access to the gyms?
Pick something you can love. Not all of us have to run on a treadmill (I actually hate it). What works for one person might not work for another. Try a diverse group of activities and see which one you will like more: running, walking, dancing, biking, kayaking, boxing, weights, swimming. You can even rotate between some or make seasonal changes to avoid boredom. It does not even have to be called an exercise. Whatever ups your heartbeat, even dancing with the TV ads or playing with the kids.
Use positive peer pressure to your advantage. I have created a group messaging for the boxing gym because at 5:30 p.m., after a busy day at the clinic, I might have trouble finding the motivation to go to the gym or do an online workout. It is easier when friends send a message they are going and motivate you. And even if you do not feel comfortable going to a gym during the pandemic, you can join an online workout together.
Do not see it as all or none. It does not have to be a one-hour drive to and from the gym or biking trail for a one-hour workout vs. staying on the couch. I always say to my patients: “One more step is better than none, and three squats are better than no squats.” When less motivated, or in the beginning, just be nice to yourself. Do as much as possible. Three minutes of dancing with your favorite music still counts.
Merge it with other activities: 15 minutes of walking while on the phone with a friend, even around the house, is still being active.
When hesitant or low on motivation, ask yourself: “When was the last time I regretted doing it?”
Although it can help, exercise is not the ultimate weight loss strategy; diet is. One large brownie might be more calories than one hour of running. Don’t give up on exercise if you are not losing weight. It is still providing all the benefits we discussed.
Even if you do not feel anxious or depressed, still take the exercise pills. Use them for protecting your brain.
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Kentucky's positive coronavirus test rate drops below 6%, but state reports another spike in Covid-19 deaths: 51 listed today
Kentucky Health News graphic; click on it to enlarge |
Kentucky Health NewsThe percentage of Kentuckians testing positive for the novel coronavirus dropped below 6 percent for the first time since Oct. 27, to 5.9%, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Wednesday.
Two of the state's 10 hospital readiness regions are using more than 80% of their intensive-care beds: Lake Cumberland, 97.8%, and the easternmost region, from Lee to Pike counties, 83.1%.
In other pandemic news Wednesday:
- Today's 51 fatalities were a Boone County woman, 59; a Boone County man, 79; a Campbell County woman, 58; a Carter County woman, 82; an Estill County man, 84; a Fayette County woman, 68; a Fayette County man, 71; two Floyd County women, 77 and 79; a Hardin County woman, 74; four Hardin County men, 44, 60, 82 and 92; a Harlan County man, 59; three Jefferson County women, 58, 84 and 84; three Jefferson County men, 62, 75 and 92; two Jessamine County men, 78 and 81; a Kenton County woman, 62, a Lawrence County woman, 71; a Lewis County woman, 66; a McCracken County woman, 79; three Madison County women, 86, 93 and 96; two Madison County men, 72 and 85; a Marshall County man, 63; a Meade County man, 66; a Menifee County woman, 92; a Mercer County man, 76; a Metcalfe County man, 65; two Montgomery County men, 61 and 64; two Nelson County men, 70 and 90; a Pulaski County man, 57; a Robertson County man, 82; a Rowan County woman, 78; a Rowan County man, 85; a Russell County man, 70; a Shelby County man, 91; two Warren County women, 75 and 77; and two Warren County men, 71 and 72.
- Counties with 10 or more new cases were Jefferson, 173; Fayette, 95; Kenton, 50; Boone, 37; Scott, 37; Warren, 37; Bullitt, 36; Pulaski, 32 ; Campbell, 31; Daviess and Laurel, 29; Barren, 27; Taylor, 25; Hardin 23; Perry, 22; Jessamine, 21; Grant and Madison, 20; Lincoln and Pike, 19; Bell, Knott and McCracken, 18; Christian, 17; Knox and Letcher, 14; Floyd, 13; Hopkins and Menifee, 12; Logan, Morgan, Nelson and Oldham, 11; and Clark, Marion and Meade, 10.
- In long-term care facilities, 187 residents and 169 staff have an active case of the virus, with 14 residents and 18 staff testing positive today.
- A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report said that among 81 attendees of indoor high-intensity fitness classes during one week, 55, or two-thirds, developed Covid-19. It says 22, or 40%, of those with Covid-19 attended class on or after the day symptoms began, and 76% of the attendees said they wore their masks infrequently: 84% if those with and 60% of those without it:
Health bills dealing with insulin cost, substance-use disorder and long-term-care staffing pass legislative chambers Tuesday
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
Health related bills are on the move in the General Assembly, with several of them passing out of their respective chambers Tuesday.
House bills sent to the Senate include one that would help some Kentuckians with diabetes pay for their life-saving medication, another aimed at decreasing the stigma around getting syringes and needles in drug stores, and one related to temporary nurse aides.
The Senate bill now in the House would remove prior-authorization requirements from drugs that help people who have a substance-use disorder deal with their addictions.
Rep. Danny Bentley (LRC photo) |
Bentley, who is a Type I diabetic, said it is important for this bill to pass because many Kentuckians have to make a regular choice between paying their rent or buying their insulin.
He explained that the cost of insulin has tripled between 2002 and 2013, even though the cost to manufacture the drug is between $3.69 to $6 per vial.
“If I was paying cash for my insulin, if I didn’t have the insurance I have, my insulin would cost me $12,000 a year,” Bentley said while holding up a vial of insulin.
He added that without the insulin, people can suffer serious health consequences, such as losing their sight, amputation or even death.
Rep. Patti Minter, D-Bowling Green, whose son has Type I diabetes, said, “No one should lose their sight because they don’t have access to something that costs $6 a bottle to manufacture. ” Minter is a primary sponsor of the bill.
According to the 2020 Kentucky Diabetes Fact Sheet, 13.7% of Kentuckians have been diagnosed with diabetes, and an estimated 158,200 adults have the disease, but are undiagnosed. Not all use injectable insulin.HB 95 passed the House 95-0 to a round of applause. A similar bill passed the House during the last legislative session, but died in the Senate as legislative business was truncated by the pandemic.
HB 219, also sponsored by Bentley, would remove pharmacy recordkeeping requirements for sale of hypodermic syringes or needles and allow their sale of without a prescription, with a limit of 30 of each and proof that the purchaser is 16 or older.
"House Bill 219 removes obsolete recordkeeping requirements for the sale of hypodermic syringes by pharmacies. The goal is to increase the availability of syringes in order to reduce the spread of diseases such as HIV, which turns into AIDS and hepatitis C," said Bentley.He added that as it stands, people who buy syringes and needles in pharmacies have to sign a black book that asks what that person plans to use them for, and removing this requirement "destroys that stigma."
After changes in committee and on the floor, the bill would require pharmacies offering retail sale of syringes and needles to provide educational materials on safe and proper disposal of the products; referral information for syringe exchange programs and treatment of substance-use-disorder; and to offer a naloxone prescription that could be used to reverse an opioid overdose. It passed 97-0.
HB 276, sponsored by Rep. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill, would allow nurse's aides who were trained as temporary Covid-19 personal-care attendants under an emergency executive order from Gov. Andy Beshear to apply their supervised training toward their state certification and registration. Moser said the bill will affect about 300 attendants who have been working in long-term care during the pandemic. The bill passed 96-0.
Sen. Ralph Alvarado (LRC photo from Jan. 9) |
Prior authorization is a process insurers use to get their approval before a patient can get a drug. Alvarado, a physician, said such authorizations are common for these medication-assisted therapies and can take days or weeks.
"Providers are routinely stymied by PA requirements at the critical moment when patients are ready to begin treatment and address their alcohol or opioid use disorder," he said, adding that the requirement puts the patient at risk of "relapse, overdose or even death."The bill also calls for an annual report to be sent to the Department of Insurance that shows the number and type of providers that have prescribed medication for addiction treatment, broken down by those who prescribed it in conjunction with behavioral therapy and those who did not prescribe it in conjunction with behavioral therapy.
"Frankly, in conclusion, this is going to help save lives here in the state of Kentucky," Alvarado said. The bill passed 34-0.
Kentucky Health News is 10 years old; here's more about us
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Ky. to get more vaccine doses; Beshear recommends more in-person schooling; daily coronavirus metrics improving or stable
State Department for Public Health map, relabeled by Kentucky Health News; click it to enlarge. |
Kentucky Health News
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 1,497 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the state's seven-day rolling average to 1,187, up from 1,152 Monday.
Kentucky's rate of new cases over the last seven days is 10th in the nation, according to The New York Times. The state says its seven-day rate of new cases is 23.22 per 100,000 residents; counties with more than double that rate are Russell, at 48.6 per 100,000; Laurel, 49.3; and Caldwell, 53.8.
Beshear said at a news conference that the "best piece of news today" was the percentage of Kentuckians testing positive for the virus in the past seven days had dropped to 6.3%, the lowest since Nov. 4.
"That's good because the positivity rate is a leading indicator, instead of a lagging indicator," he said.
A lagging indicator is deaths. Beshear announced 16 more deaths from Covid-19, all but one of them confirmed. That brings the state's death toll to 4,476.
"While it's not the 30, 40 or 50 we've seen in other weeks, it's still too many," he said. Over the last 14 days, the state has reported an average of 25 Covid-19 deaths per day; the average was last that low Jan. 12.
Hospital numbers remain stable, with 894 people hospitalized with Covid-19 (an increase of 20 from yesterday); 242 in intensive care (down one) and 121 of those on a ventilator (up two).
Two of the state's 10 hospital readiness regions are using more than 80% of their intensive-care beds: the easternmost region, from Lee to Pike counties, 81.6%, and Lake Cumberland, 88.9%.
Vaccine update: The state's daily vaccination report shows 594,380 Kentuckians have received their first dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.
Beshear said the Biden administration is again increasing states' vaccine allocations, which will give Kentucky about 10,000 more doses per week for at least three weeks. He also announced that drug stores in the federal pharmacy program will also get a small boost of about 1,000 more doses.
This week, the state is expecting to get 152,710 doses, which includes the weekly allotment and about 64,000 doses from last week that were delayed by the extreme weather.
This influx of vaccine is timely; Beshear announced Monday that Kentucky's 51 regional sites will start vaccinating people in the 1C category on Monday, March 1. This group includes all essential workers, people over 60 and people 16 and older with certain medical conditions.
Tinglong Dai, an expert in health care operations and vaccine supply chain who works at Johns Hopkins University, wrote in The Conversation that the best way to get people signed up for vaccines is through a "trustworthy one-stop pre-registration system" that notifies a person when it is time for them to sign up and allows them to check where they are in the line. He notes that West Virginia, which has been lauded as a leader in vaccine distribution, has such a system.
Asked about Kentucky's sign-up system, Beshear said it is designed to tell a person when they are eligible to get a vaccine and where the closest site is.
He said information technology "is the most challenging piece" because Kentucky does not have an IT system capable of handling a one-stop system. He said the state's partnerships with private partners, like Kroger, which has more sophisticated systems, "gives us an extra level of protection of not crashing" and of protecting personal information.
That said, he acknowledged that Kentucky's system has led to people signing up at more than one location. He said the no-show rate is 5% to 10%, "and we believe that's one of the major reasons."
"I fully understand that one system would certainly prevent some of that," he said. "All we ask is for those people, when you get your appointment, please cancel the other ones that you put in for."School openings: Beshear issued an executive order Tuesday that was not a directive, but a recommendation: that Kentucky school districts offer or expand some form of in-person instruction by March 1, or a week after school personnel have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Beshear said schools must require masks indoors, should evaluate their ventilation systems and consider "appropriate safety procedures," reduce student density either through social distancing or by using a hybrid model, and provide "meaningful" virtual options for students not returning to the building.
"At the end of the day, we didn't vaccinate our educators for nothing," the governor said. "We did this because we all know that we need some form of in-person learning." He reiterated that Kentucky has led the nation in getting its K-12 personnel vaccinated.
Beshear announced that all school requirements tied to counties' color-coded infection rates will be discontinued March 1. However, he said the rates and map will still be made available and should be checked to assess community spread.
"That should impact decisions made by a community and by a school in terms of extracurriculars or those additional things that might bring in that community spread," Beshear said. Thirty-seven of the 120 counties are in the most critical "red zone," averaging 25 or more cases per 100,000 people over the last seven days.
Beshear said 165 of the state's 171 school districts have returned to some form of in-person instruction. Click here for the latest Kentucky Department of Education Covid-19 guidance.
In other pandemic news Tuesday:
- The 16 newly listed Covid-19 fatalities were a Hopkins County man, 51; four Jefferson County women, 70, 80, 80 and 92; three Jefferson County men, 67, 78 and 86; a McCracken County man, 80; a Muhlenberg County woman, 60; an Ohio County man, 89; a Shelby County woman, 33; a Spencer county man, 68; a Warren County man, 72; and two Whitley County women, 53 and 56.
- Counties with 10 or more new cases were Jefferson, 208; Fayette, 133; Boone, 70; Laurel, 65; Kenton, 61; Warren, 49; Pike, 46; Daviess, 39; Hardin, 34; Madison, 31; Campbell, 29; Perry, 28; Pulaski, 27; Scott and Taylor, 26; Oldham, 25; Christian and Nelson, 24; Jessamine, 23; Knox, 22; Bullitt, 21; McCracken and Rowan, 20; Lawrence, 18; Greenup, 17; Barren, 16; Russell, Shelby and Whitley, 15; Boyd, Clay and Letcher, 12; Carter and Harlan, 11; and Adair, Marshall and Meade, 10.
- Long-term-care facilities have 196 residents and 169 staff with active cases of the virus, with eight residents and 16 staffers testing positive Tuesday.
- Kentucky doctors say they continue to see regular cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, known as MIS-C, a rare but sometimes deadly complication in children who have had Covid-19, Deborah Yetter reports for the Louisville Courier Journal. There have been no deaths from MIS-C in Kentucky, but it has killed 30 children nationwide. Yetter adds that between Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville and Kentucky Children's Hospital in Lexington, around 50 children have been diagnosed with MIS-C and are closely followed for complications, which could include heart damage.
Monday, February 22, 2021
Vaccinations will move March 1 to the 1C category: People over 60, those with certain health conditions, and essential workers
Ky. Dept. for Public Health graph, relabeled by Ky. Health News; for a larger version, click on it. |
- Today's 13 deaths were a Bullitt County man, 70; a Daviess County man, 56; two Fayette County men, 78 and 86; three Jefferson County women, 60, 81 and 83; three Jefferson County men, 74, 85 and 93; a Mercer County woman, 89; a Shelby County woman, 69; and a Shelby County man, 85.
- Counties with 10 or more new cases on Monday were Jefferson, 95; Fayette, 30; Oldham, 24; Campbell, 21; Kenton, 20; Boone, 19; Laurel and Warren, 15; McCracken, 14; Carter and Franklin, 13; Daviess and Knox, 11; and Scott, 10.
- In long-term care, 210 residents and 168 staff have active cases of the virus, with 26 residents and 21 staff testing positive Monday.
- A Montgomery County parent wants a judge to issue an emergency injunction against the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, calling the current rules that require middle- or high-school athletes who test positive to self-isolate for up to three weeks "unconstitutional" and "inconsistent" with the rules set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other sporting leagues, Ayana Archie reports for the Louisville Courier Journal. The lawsuit asks that Kentucky schools follow the same rules as the Southeastern Conference, which says an athlete is not required to quarantine after seven days if they test negative for the virus on day five, six or seven, or the quarantine can end without a test after 10 days with no symptoms.
- A new CDC study shows that teachers and staff may play a "central role" in transmitting the coronavirus in schools where social distancing isn't followed and face masks are not worn. “Educators played an important role in the spread of Covid-19 in the schools. Covid-19 spread often occurred during in-person meetings or lunches and then subsequently spread in classrooms,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters at a briefing Monday. “The two main reasons for the spread of Covid-19 in these schools were inadequate physical distancing and mask adherence in the schools.”
Sunday, February 21, 2021
25% of Ky.'s community-health-center visits are via telehealth; bill would codify some temporary telehealth rules, such as audio visits
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
A bill to codify telehealth provisions that were put into place during the pandemic to temporarily relax some of the regulations has passed out of committee and awaits a hearing in the full House.
Rep. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill, who is the co-sponsor of House Bill 140, told Kentucky Health News that it is very important for this telehealth bill to pass.Rep. Kim Moser |
She called the relaxation of the rules during the pandemic "a real godsend" and said going forward, it will continue to increase access to care for Kentuckians, especially for those with health care disparities, like transportation and poverty.
Moser said a key component of the bill is that it continues to allow audio-only visits, which she said is imperative because the state has many places without broadband and many patients who are not adept at using the technology.
The bill also requires parity of payment for services that are delivered in a like manner to an office visit, and allows licensing boards of each profession to have input around what types of visits would be conducive to telehealth services.
"The utilization of telehealth has been one of the shining moments of hope throughout the pandemic," Rep. Deanna Frazier, R-Richmond, said at the Feb. 4 House Health and Family Services Committee meeting, where the bill passed unanimously.