During his last planned COVID-19 briefing before Thanksgiving, Governor Andy Beshear offered words of caution to those looking to celebrate the holiday. He reported the highest number of weekend cases in at least four weeks and the highest total number of cases in five weeks. Beshear said the case positivity rate increased to 6.56% ‒ 1.5% higher over three weeks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) voiced concern about a European surge in COVID-19 cases. The governor said the situation required watching in the coming weeks.

While total cases and the state’s positivity rate increased in recent weeks, Beshear said the total number of patients in intensive care units, breathing with the assistance of a ventilator, and hospitals operating at critical staffing shortages is level or lower than recent weeks.

He encouraged people taking part in Thanksgiving festivities to get vaccinated or get a booster. Public health officials are asking people to stay home if unwell and wear a mask if indoors and unvaccinated. They also encourage people to keep holiday gatherings small.

More than half a million Kentuckians have received a COVID booster. Public health officials have administered at least one dose of the vaccine to 2.65 million Kentuckians and 32,774 children between 5 and 11 years of age.