Whitley County COVID–19 vaccination rate stands at 32.9 percent

The Whitley County Health Department announced the latest COVID–19 death Monday.

Officials said the adult, who had not been vaccinated, died last week.

According to officials, 32.9 percent of the county’s residents that are eligible have been vaccinated.

Officials announced 43 new cases since Friday, five of them involving children.

Three of those cases are breakthrough, meaning that the individuals had been infected at least 14 days after the person had received the final vaccination.

A total of 4,191 Whitley County residents have tested positive for COVID–19.

There are currently 139 active cases.

Gov. Andy Beshear emphasized during his briefing on Monday that getting more people to get vaccinated is the best way to decrease the spread of the disease.

Over the weekend and through Monday, Beshear noted that an additional 22,663 Kentuckians had been vaccinated.

“That needs to continue,” Beshear said.

As to who is not vaccinated, Beshear said it is adults between the ages of 18 and 29 that have the lowest vaccination rate at 37 percent.

As to where the vaccination rate is the highest, Beshear said 74 of Kentucky’s 120 counties currently have a vaccination rate under 50 percent.

Pulaski County is the only local county with a vaccination rate greater than 40 percent.

Beshear noted that between March 1 and July 30, Kentucky had 460 COVID-19 related deaths.

Of those, 52, or 12.6 percent were vaccinated individuals.

“You are very protected if you get the vaccine,” Beshear said.

Beshear said, at the present time, he is not consider returning to the mask mandate or the lower occupancy limits.

“I’m taking the potential for a mask mandate off the table,” Beshear said.

In addition, Beshear said he is not considering vaccination mandates for state workers, or the general public.

“If you did a vaccine mandate, do you think it would work,” Beshear asked when the question was posed noting that those that have yet to get vaccinated have dug their heels in and the mandate would only deepen their resolve.