With the highly contagious omicron variant more than doubling every two days, Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday gave recommendations for Kentuckians attending New Year's events and parents with children returning to school after the winter break.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the updated recommendations "balance what we know about the spread of the virus and the protection provided by vaccination and booster doses."
The nation has averaged more than 200,000 new cases per day, a 69% jump during the period, but Kentucky's new-case rate has dropped 39%, more than any other state.
Gov. Andy Beshear warned that omicron is spreading faster than anything we've ever seen and appears to be one of the most contagious viruses in modern history.
As more indoor venues require proof of vaccination and new variants loom, scientists and public health officials are debating when it will be time to change the definition of “fully vaccinated” to include a booster shot.
As of Saturday evening, the omicron variant had been detected in at least 15 different states. And while it's too early to say if the most recent variant of concern will be as dangerous as delta, preliminary evidence suggests it may spread faster and be more likely to reinfect individuals who previously contracted coronavirus.
