COVID-19 Archives

Beshear says legislature ‘owns this pandemic’ and urges local school officials to impose mask mandates

by Al Cross
September 11, 2021

Republicans who control the legislature, and a few Democratic lawmakers, have said they trust local school officials to make the right decisions, but Beshear countered that school districts across the country have not done that.

Biden’s virus mandates will affect about two-thirds of country’s workers

by The Rural Blog
September 10, 2021

The president said he will require vaccinations — with no exceptions for regular testing among the unvaccinated — for employees of Head Start programs and Defense Department contractors

Lawmakers pass bill that prevents statewide mask mandate until 2023

by Kentucky Health News
September 10, 2021

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear quickly line-item-vetoed the bill, and the Republican controlled legislature over-rode the veto about as quickly.

Republican-led General Assembly passes bill to eliminate universal masking in schools

by Kentucky Health News
September 9, 2021

Democrats in both chambers said some districts wouldn't impose mask mandates, raising the threat of the coronavirus not only in schools but the general population, leading to more deaths from COVID-19.

City’s vaccine incentive guidelines outlined; county residents will be eligible for drawings

by Jennifer P. Brown
September 9, 2021

Both Hopkinsville and Christian County residents who meet the vaccine requirements by the end of October will be entered to win one of 10 drawings for $1,000.

Health department to begin drive-thru coronavirus testing on Canton Street

by Jennifer P. Brown
September 9, 2021

Testing will be done Monday through Thursday in the department's parking lot.

Pandemic bills advancing quickly in special legislative session

by Ryland Barton
September 9, 2021

Legislators are considering a controversial resolution that would require the state to recognize a positive COVID antibody test as the same as a COVID vaccination, even though people who naturally recover from the virus are more than twice as likely to contract it again compared to people who get vaccinated.

State lawmakers tap federal relief money to fight pandemic

by WKMS
September 8, 2021

The Beshear administration will have the ability to decide how much and what to spend the funds on.

McConnell supports eliminating state mask mandate for schools

by Liam Niemeyer
September 8, 2021

McConnell, during a visit with the Rotary Club of Paducah, said he’s spoken with leaders of the state general assembly, and believes it’s wise to put the decision of school mask mandates in the hands of school boards and those more directly educating students.

More than 30 agriculture groups urge rural residents to get vaccinated

by The Rural Blog
September 8, 2021

An open letter to rural Americans emphasizes the importance of individual choice in the decision.

More Ohio Valley children are becoming severely sick with COVID-19. Pediatricians are worried about what lies ahead

by Corinne Boyer and Liam Niemeyer
September 8, 2021

Pediatricians from across the Ohio Valley say this new wave of COVID-19 is sickening children with severe symptoms that require hospitalizations, as school districts continue to try to maintain in-person learning without closures.

Mayor breaks tie vote on council to approve vaccine incentive

by Jennifer P. Brown
September 7, 2021

Up to 1,000 city residents can receive $100 each if they get a COVID-19 vaccination between Sept. 13 and Oct. 31.