PREMATURE PRONOUCEMENT
Biden: ‘The pandemic is over’
Brett Samuels
Sun, September 18, 2022
President Biden in an interview that aired Sunday declared the coronavirus pandemic is “over,” pointing to the return of large events and the lack of masking and other public health measures in place nationwide.
“The pandemic is over,” Biden told “60 Minutes” from the Detroit auto show last Wednesday, the first one held since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. “We still have a problem with COVID. We’re still doing a lotta work on it. It’s– but the pandemic is over. if you notice, no one’s wearing masks. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it’s changing. And I think this is a perfect example of it.”
The United States is still recording an average of more than 400 deaths per day from COVID-19, according to New York Times data, and more than 1 million Americans have died from the virus since the pandemic began in early 2020.
Highly contagious variants have spread throughout the globe, making it nearly impossible to fully eradicate COVID-19.
As a result, the Biden administration has focused its messaging on the importance of getting vaccinated and receiving booster shots to increase immunity, as well as the wide availability of of antiviral pills and other forms of treatment for those who contract the virus.
Biden himself contracted COVID-19 in July, but dealt with only mild symptoms, according to his doctor. Officials credited his mild case to being fully vaccinated and taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid.
The U.S. and much of the world has returned to hosting large events over the past year, like the auto show, and done away with requirements that attendees where mask or provide proof of vaccination. The U.S. does require foreign visitors to be fully vaccinated to come to the country by plane.
“I think you’d agree that the impact on the psyche of the American people as a consequence of the pandemic is profound,” Biden said in his interview with Scott Pelley. “Think of how that has changed everything. You know, people’s attitudes about themselves, their families, about the state of the nation, about the state of their communities. And so there’s a lot of uncertainty out there, a great deal of uncertainty. And we lost a million people. A million people to COVID.
“When I got in office, when I got elected, only 2 million people had been vaccinated. I got 220 million– my point is it takes time,” he added. “We were left in a very difficult situation. It’s been a very difficult time. Very difficult.”
Brett Samuels
Sun, September 18, 2022
President Biden in an interview that aired Sunday declared the coronavirus pandemic is “over,” pointing to the return of large events and the lack of masking and other public health measures in place nationwide.
“The pandemic is over,” Biden told “60 Minutes” from the Detroit auto show last Wednesday, the first one held since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. “We still have a problem with COVID. We’re still doing a lotta work on it. It’s– but the pandemic is over. if you notice, no one’s wearing masks. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it’s changing. And I think this is a perfect example of it.”
The United States is still recording an average of more than 400 deaths per day from COVID-19, according to New York Times data, and more than 1 million Americans have died from the virus since the pandemic began in early 2020.
Highly contagious variants have spread throughout the globe, making it nearly impossible to fully eradicate COVID-19.
As a result, the Biden administration has focused its messaging on the importance of getting vaccinated and receiving booster shots to increase immunity, as well as the wide availability of of antiviral pills and other forms of treatment for those who contract the virus.
Biden himself contracted COVID-19 in July, but dealt with only mild symptoms, according to his doctor. Officials credited his mild case to being fully vaccinated and taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid.
The U.S. and much of the world has returned to hosting large events over the past year, like the auto show, and done away with requirements that attendees where mask or provide proof of vaccination. The U.S. does require foreign visitors to be fully vaccinated to come to the country by plane.
“I think you’d agree that the impact on the psyche of the American people as a consequence of the pandemic is profound,” Biden said in his interview with Scott Pelley. “Think of how that has changed everything. You know, people’s attitudes about themselves, their families, about the state of the nation, about the state of their communities. And so there’s a lot of uncertainty out there, a great deal of uncertainty. And we lost a million people. A million people to COVID.
“When I got in office, when I got elected, only 2 million people had been vaccinated. I got 220 million– my point is it takes time,” he added. “We were left in a very difficult situation. It’s been a very difficult time. Very difficult.”
45 Kentucky counties are at high COVID community level. See where CDC recommends masks
Jackie Starkey
Sun, September 18, 2022
The number of counties at a high COVID-19 community level has fallen significantly over the past week, according to the latest update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Thursday, 45 Kentucky counties are at a high community level — a metric determined by new cases and hospital admissions per 100,000 people (seven-day totals) and the percentage of occupied COVID-19 hospital beds (a seven-day average).
The CDC updates the guidance weekly and recommends individuals mask up when indoors in counties where the community level is high.
Most of Kentucky’s counties at high are in the eastern part of the state, and Fayette and several adjacent counties are also at high.
This map of Kentucky from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows COVID-19 community levels by county as of Sept. 16, 2022. Those in orange are at high, yellow are at medium and green are at low.
Last week, 71 counties were scored high, and the number at medium has increased over the week from 37 to 44. Thirty-one counties are at low as of Sept. 16.
The CDC recommends those who reside in or visit medium counties and are at risk for severe illness also mask up in indoor public places.
Staying up to date on vaccines and testing if symptoms arise are recommended for everyone, regardless of community level.
Looking for a COVID booster, flu shot or monkeypox vaccine? Where to find one in Lexington
COVID-19 in Kentucky
The state reports cases and other coronavirus data weekly on its dashboard. As of the latest report, dated Sept. 12, 9,074 new COVID-19 cases were reported for the week prior, along with 65 new deaths.
More than 1.5 million cases have been confirmed in Kentucky since the onset of the pandemic and the death toll is at 16,822.
“(It’s) still too early to say if we are in a true decline, but it does look promising,” Gov. Andy Beshear noted Thursday during the coronavirus update portion of his weekly press conference.
The state’s positivity rate — the portion of positive tests over the total administered for the period — was 16.29%, down from 18.4% the week prior.
The CDC reports 8,371 new cases for the state in the past week ending Sept. 13, with more than 47,400 tests performed. Cases in Kentucky and across the U.S. are undercounted given the rise in at-home testing.
You tested positive for COVID-19 at home. Now what? KY’s reader questions, answered
COVID-19 in Fayette County
The state’s Sept. 12 report includes 511 new confirmed cases in Lexington, along with one additional death. To date, 660 Fayette County residents have died of COVID-19, according to the local health department.
The CDC puts Lexington’s case rate at 169.27 cases per 100,000 people and the positivity rate at 16.35%.
Rollout continues for the updated COVID-19 booster shot, which now has expanded eligibility for many Americans and others living in the U.S.
The updated formulas, set to target the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, are now available to all ages 12 and older who have completed their primary series and have not received a shot in the last two months, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The new boosters are available at many area pharmacies and providers, and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has two mass clinics scheduled to administer Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs.
The LFCHD’s regular public health clinic will also begin offering the updated boosters Oct. 3.
CDC data indicates 72.2% of Fayette County residents ages 5 and older are fully vaccinated. Statewide, that figure falls to 62.2%. Meanwhile, 38.6% of Lexingtonians ages 50 and older are fully vaccinated through their second booster.
Gov. Beshear noted while the outlook is improving, the state continues to see “dozens” of COVID deaths each week.
“There’s a common thread for almost all the people that we’re losing. They’re either unvaccinated or haven’t gotten all of their boosters,” he said.
Jackie Starkey
Sun, September 18, 2022
The number of counties at a high COVID-19 community level has fallen significantly over the past week, according to the latest update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Thursday, 45 Kentucky counties are at a high community level — a metric determined by new cases and hospital admissions per 100,000 people (seven-day totals) and the percentage of occupied COVID-19 hospital beds (a seven-day average).
The CDC updates the guidance weekly and recommends individuals mask up when indoors in counties where the community level is high.
Most of Kentucky’s counties at high are in the eastern part of the state, and Fayette and several adjacent counties are also at high.
This map of Kentucky from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows COVID-19 community levels by county as of Sept. 16, 2022. Those in orange are at high, yellow are at medium and green are at low.
Last week, 71 counties were scored high, and the number at medium has increased over the week from 37 to 44. Thirty-one counties are at low as of Sept. 16.
The CDC recommends those who reside in or visit medium counties and are at risk for severe illness also mask up in indoor public places.
Staying up to date on vaccines and testing if symptoms arise are recommended for everyone, regardless of community level.
Looking for a COVID booster, flu shot or monkeypox vaccine? Where to find one in Lexington
COVID-19 in Kentucky
The state reports cases and other coronavirus data weekly on its dashboard. As of the latest report, dated Sept. 12, 9,074 new COVID-19 cases were reported for the week prior, along with 65 new deaths.
More than 1.5 million cases have been confirmed in Kentucky since the onset of the pandemic and the death toll is at 16,822.
“(It’s) still too early to say if we are in a true decline, but it does look promising,” Gov. Andy Beshear noted Thursday during the coronavirus update portion of his weekly press conference.
The state’s positivity rate — the portion of positive tests over the total administered for the period — was 16.29%, down from 18.4% the week prior.
The CDC reports 8,371 new cases for the state in the past week ending Sept. 13, with more than 47,400 tests performed. Cases in Kentucky and across the U.S. are undercounted given the rise in at-home testing.
You tested positive for COVID-19 at home. Now what? KY’s reader questions, answered
COVID-19 in Fayette County
The state’s Sept. 12 report includes 511 new confirmed cases in Lexington, along with one additional death. To date, 660 Fayette County residents have died of COVID-19, according to the local health department.
The CDC puts Lexington’s case rate at 169.27 cases per 100,000 people and the positivity rate at 16.35%.
Rollout continues for the updated COVID-19 booster shot, which now has expanded eligibility for many Americans and others living in the U.S.
The updated formulas, set to target the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, are now available to all ages 12 and older who have completed their primary series and have not received a shot in the last two months, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The new boosters are available at many area pharmacies and providers, and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has two mass clinics scheduled to administer Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs.
The LFCHD’s regular public health clinic will also begin offering the updated boosters Oct. 3.
CDC data indicates 72.2% of Fayette County residents ages 5 and older are fully vaccinated. Statewide, that figure falls to 62.2%. Meanwhile, 38.6% of Lexingtonians ages 50 and older are fully vaccinated through their second booster.
Gov. Beshear noted while the outlook is improving, the state continues to see “dozens” of COVID deaths each week.
“There’s a common thread for almost all the people that we’re losing. They’re either unvaccinated or haven’t gotten all of their boosters,” he said.
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