COVID Cases Down A Few, Health Dept. Says Vaccinations Will Continue This Week

Governor Signs Executive Order For Unemployment One-Time Relief Payment Program

Darren Doyle, story:
Although not by much, Edmonson County's active COVID cases declined to 90 today from Friday's number of 102, according to numbers released from the Barren River District Health Department. Today's data showed 651 total cases, 548 which were recovered, and 13 total deaths reported as a result of COVID-19. 

The BRDHD also announced today that local departments are moving forward with the next phase of COVID-19 vaccinations.

"We have been authorized by the Kentucky Department of health to move forward into Phase 1b of vaccination, which includes first responders, any of at least 70 years of age, and K-12 school personnel," the dept. said in a press release on Monday.

"The Barren River District Health Department will be vaccinating individuals 70 years of age and older on Thursday at each of its eight local health departments. We hope to vaccinate more 70+ individuals next week pending availability of the vaccine. If you are 70 years of age or older, reside in Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, Simpson or Warren Counties, and would like to schedule an appointment with the Barren River District Health Department for this Thursday’s clinic, please call your local health department phone number and press 1. If you are 70 years of age or older, reside in Hart or Metcalfe Counties, and would like to schedule an appointment with the Barren River District Health Department for this Thursday’s clinic, please call 270-781-8039, press 4, then press 1."

They also said that the Norton Call Center has been set up for the public that have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. The call center is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week and can be reached at 1-800-722-5725. 

The Edmonson County Health Department's phone number is 270-597-2194.

Few vaccinations have been administered in Edmonson County and information regarding the vaccines have been scarce. Some local first responders and medical workers have received vaccinations over the last two weeks that included, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, health care providers, and pharmacy workers. 

Governor Andy Beshear  ​signed an executive order creating the Unemployment One-Time Relief Payment Program to be administered by the Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI) and funded by Coronavirus Relief Fund money for up to $48 million. The program will provide one-time supplemental payments to claimants:

1. $400 to claimants under any OUI program who: (a) would otherwise have qualified for 2020 FEMA Lost Wages Assistance but their weekly benefit amount was below $100, and (b) who had an approved claim in November and December 2020 but a weekly benefit amount of less than $176. Approximately 25,000 Kentuckians are eligible for this payment; and
2. $1,000 to claimants under any OUI program between March 4 and Oct. 31, 2020, with verified identities and no indication of fraud, but whose claims were not yet adjudicated and paid. Approximately 16,500 Kentuckians are eligible for this payment.

“For those who were able to file a claim, we want to help these people until we can get to their claims,” said Gov. Beshear. “And we want to help the people who were working regular, full-time jobs before this crisis but still didn’t make enough to qualify for Lost Wages Assistance when they lost their jobs.”

According to the KY Department of Health, 119 out of 120 KY counties were listed as "red zone" today.