By Jarrod Mills
Staff Writer Apr 7, 2021
Coronavirus Vaccine bottle Corona Virus COVID-19 Covid vaccines panoramic view bottles Markus Mainka
As Kentucky continues to vaccinate its citizens at a rate higher than the national average, Governor Andy Beshearâs recent announcement opening COVID-19 vaccinations up to those Kentuckians 16 and older, will likely see that trend continue into the future.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Commonwealth has seen approximately 20 percent of its population vaccinated. Approximately 25 percent of Kentuckians 18 years and older have been vaccinated, while approximately 53 percent of those 65 years and older have been vaccinated.
In Whitley County, 18 percent of Whitley Countians have been fully vaccinated, with approximately 24 percent of those folks being 18 years and older. Around 60 percent of Whitley Countyâs residents 65 and older have been vaccinated
Whitley County
The Whitley County Health Department announced eight additional COVID–19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the county’s total to 3,648.
There are currently 54 active cases, of which three are hospitalized.
With the new cases, Whitley County’s COVID–19 incidence rate stands at 28.
Laurel County
The Laurel County Health Department announced the county’s COVID data for March 29 through April 4 on Monday.
The department reported a total of 78 new cases during that time.
The county’s COVID–19 incidence rate, as of Tuesday, stands at 12.2.
Knox County
The Knox County Kentucky Health Department announced 17 additional cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the county’s total to 3,530.
April 6 marks the one-year anniversary since the first case of COVID-19 was announced in Whitley County. Members of the community have all been impacted differently with some feeling the effects of the virus more than others. Despite the differences, every person has been impacted in some way by the virus.
Here are just a few of their perspectives.
Health official battles misinformation and public stigma
“I had a bad feeling about it,” said Marcy Rein, the director of public health at the Whitley County Health Department. “It felt a little bit like a train coming, but you can’t quite tell how far away it is, but you know that it is coming.”
Whitley County Farmers Market preparing for another season with fundraising event April 13 thetimestribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thetimestribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In terms of COVID-19 vaccination rates, Whitley County is beating the national percentages in regards to the percent of the population at least 18 years of age that are vaccinated and the percent of the population at least 65 years of age that are vaccinated, and is nearly at the national average in regards to total percentage of the population vaccinated, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) COVID Data Tracker.
Whitley County is leading its surrounding counties in terms of percentage of people vaccinated, but trailing the state averages in two out of the three vaccination percentage categories as of March 29.