Hospitals aren’t yet seeing the kind of numbers that overwhelmed them earlier this year, but their COVID patient censuses are up as new, more contagious variants spread. Just how contagious? Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack put it in perspective.
"The earlier version of COVID, one person with it might have infected three or so other. One person with the current Omicron BA.5 variant could infect 18 or more people. That's how easily this spreads."Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack
For now, Stack did not highlight any evidence that the new COVID variants are causing more severe disease, but he applauded Toyota’s recent move to revive its mask requirement. He said many in Kentucky would do well to consider following that lead.
"We are solidly at a phase in the pandemic in the United States where individuals who are at higher risk — and I'll say it, generally people 60 and older — anyone with major medical problems or compromised immune systems, you need to take extra precautions if you're in a red county and maybe even a yellow county. You should probably wear a mask if you have to go indoors. If you can avoid crowded indoor events, you should probably do that," the commissioner advises.
Check here to see what color your county currently is under the CDC Community Level system.
Stack was also asked about a potential looming shortfall of federal resources for COVID vaccines and therapeutics in the fall. He said the state will run out of monoclonal antibody treatments in the next few weeks and he hopes the federal government will be able to shore up more resources and avoid limitations on new vaccines in the fall.
The important thing: right now, vaccines remain plentiful.
