COVID-19 Archives

Bill aims to ease Kentucky’s nursing shortage by relaxing licensing requirements, enrollment caps

by Melissa Patrick
February 19, 2022

The bill includes four key measures to address the shortage: licensing reciprocity between other states and countries, higher enrollment caps, looser nursing-instructor qualifications and restructuring the state Board of Nursing.

Devin Brumfield named director of Christian County Health Department

by Jennifer P. Brown
February 18, 2022

Brumfield, a health department employee since 2014, had served as interim director for seven months.

State association is offering cash incentives to local groups that host vaccine clinics

by Jennifer P. Brown
February 17, 2022

Groups interested in hosting a vaccine clinic should apply to the Kentucky Association of Health Plans by March 13.

Bill to prohibit schools from requiring masks passes first hurdle

by Melissa Patrick
February 16, 2022

The bill conflicts with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order that required students and drivers to wear masks on buses, regardless of their vaccination status.

Medical boards pressured to let it slide when doctors spread COVID misinformation

by Blake Farmer
February 15, 2022

State medical boards have an obligation to investigate complaints about doctors, including those who may spread false information about medical care. But in Florida, Tennessee, and other states, lawmakers are moving to protect physicians using unproven COVID treatments or spreading misinformation.

Polio, chickenpox, measles, now COVID. It’s time to consult history on school vaccine mandates

by Elisabeth Rosenthal
February 9, 2022

History holds lessons for why low vaccination rates for children are so risky and why officials should strongly consider school mandates for the COVID vaccine.

Ready for another pandemic malady? It’s called ‘decision fatigue’

by Jenny Gold
February 7, 2022

Pandemic living has come with a barrage of daily choices that have many of us complaining of a sort of brain freeze. That exhaustion is real, and it’s got a name: “decision fatigue.”

Pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations lagging behind older Kentuckians

by Lisa Autry
February 3, 2022

Kentucky ranks 38th in the nation for 5-11 year-olds who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

It’s day 6 of COVID, and a rapid antigen test comes back positive. Stay home, say virologists.

by Rae Ellen Bichell
January 31, 2022

Data from the world of sports — where resources and COVID-19 testing methods abound — offers a glimpse into how variable the period of coronavirus infectiousness might be.

CDC tells pharmacies to give 4th COVID shots to immunocompromised patients

by Liz Szabo
January 26, 2022

The CDC reached out to pharmacists Wednesday to reinforce the message that people with moderate to severe immune suppression are eligible for fourth COVID shots. The action came in the wake of a Kaiser Health News story about pharmacists refusing to give fourth shots to patients with significant immune suppression.

Western Ky. health departments scale back calls to positive COVID-19 cases

by Liam Niemeyer
January 26, 2022

In Christian County, the burden on getting the word out about isolation guidelines is being moved to employers and other health care providers – and health officials are missing important opportunities.

With a vaccine mandate looming, nursing homes face more staffing problems

by Eric Berger
January 25, 2022

In Kentucky, nursing home vaccination rates are nearly 78%. In Christian County, the percentage is significantly lower.