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One-stop website on respiratory viruses launches in Kentucky
State joins CDC and other states in consolidated approach FRANKFORT (Oct. 12, 2023) — The Kentucky Department for Public Health has launched a new respiratory virus website, CoverYourCough.ky.gov, a one-stop spot for finding information on COVID-19, influenza and RSV. According to KDPH Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack, today’s move follows the approach the Centers for Disease…
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Federal government relaunches free, at-home COVID-19 tests, available Sept. 25
KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million to make new at-home tests for COVID-19 and relaunch the program that allows Americans to order up to four free tests per household through the mail. The Department of Health and Human Services says in a news release that orders can…
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Kentucky COVID hospitalizations more than double, exceed U.S. rate, but hospitals say they have been small and ‘manageable’
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS Kentucky has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases, and local outbreaks, along with other illnesses, have shut down several school districts. This has also been reflected in hospital admissions, which is considered one of the most reliable indicators for tracking the virus since the end of the public-health emergency…
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Schools in Lee, Magoffin close due to COVID-19, other illnesses
KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS The predicted “summer surge” of COVID-19 has been relatively small but large enough in some Kentucky school districts to make them suspend classes. Magoffin County schools closed Thursday and Friday, and Lee County schools closed Tuesday through Friday due to illness, WKYT reports. Thursday and Friday were nontraditional instruction days. Magoffin County…
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New vaccines for COVID-19, flu, RSV expected to curb ever-mutating respiratory viruses
KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS Americans will have access to several vaccines this fall to protect them against respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), but effectively deploying them is expected to be challenging and confusing. With the latest major mutation of the COVID-19 virus, “We have to have a lot of humility .…
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COVID-19 vaccines: What parents need to know now
The COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a national emergency, but the virus that caused it isn’t gone—and neither is the risk of getting the disease, says Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. It published a Q and A with Dr. Michael Smit, the hospital’s medical director of infection prevention and control: Who is eligible for the bivalent…
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National public-health emergency for COVID-19 ends Thursday
Experts warn that another Omicron-like outbreak is still possible KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, and the U.S. public health emergency ends May 11, but the pandemic is not over and the disease remains a threat, the World Health Organization said Friday. Experts recently warned the White House that “There’s…
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FDA approves new booster, recommends a second booster for some
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS The best way to protect yourself from severe illness, hospitalization and death from Covid-19 is to get vaccinated and boosted. This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a second Omicron booster, also referred to as the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine, for immunocompromised people and people over the age…
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Kentuckians need to raise their guard to fight off lasting effects of pandemic
BY BEN CHANDLER, PRESIDENT AND CEO, FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY We are no longer seeing high community-spread of COVID-19 in Kentucky, but the pandemic is still impacting the health of the state. Data shows chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease have increased during the pandemic. There are so many layers to these…
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Beshear says ‘it’s time’ to end U.S. COVID emergency, set May 11, but notes expiring programs; estimated 260,000 to lose Medicaid
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS Gov. Andy Beshear agreed with President Biden’s decision to end the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, a decision that will bring an end to several programs that were put in place to help people during the worst of the pandemic. “I think it’s time,” Beshear said at…
Category: COVID-19
