We're not looking at it right now with our state employees, but we may well adjust the frequency that certain folks need to be tested that interact with the public or, especially, congregate care. We had one in Bowling Green, Ky., and I've supported each and every one of those businesses that have come out and ultimately made a mandate. I think we are seeing it in health care facilities. Does that include mandates? And is that something that you would ever consider for state employees?īESHEAR: Well, we're seeing, certainly, mandates from some larger, multinational, but certainly American companies. SHAPIRO: You say action by private employers is helping to spur people to get vaccinated. And so it should be a big enough cause for concern. It's putting younger people in the hospital. It's putting more people in the hospital. The delta variant is burning through the unvaccinated. And I believe we are also seeing actions by private employers, and, certainly, I made my decision on state office buildings as an employer that needs people at work providing critical services. But, certainly, the delta variant itself is causing an uptick. That stopped the overall decline we saw in vaccinations, which was helpful.
#ANDY BESHEAR MASKS FREE#
We've also been offering free higher educations to 12- to 17-year-olds. We've had two drawings, and we have one more. What do you think is changing their minds right now?īESHEAR: Well, we have been offering the million dollars. You've been offering people the chance to win a million dollars if they get the vaccine. I mean, these are shots that have been around for months. SHAPIRO: Tell us more about that spike in vaccinations. We're not going to take anything off the table, but we've got to try to meet people where they are, ultimately get as many people vaccinated as we can. And so you have to very carefully consider, will that take people who have refused to get vaccinated and make them dig in their heels even further? Or are we starting to see - and we are in Kentucky - a real uptick in vaccinations? In fact, about 34,000 over the last three days combined, when we were looking really at about 6,000 before, during that same period of time. And while we have tried to set the right example - and we have by going back to masking in state office buildings, where we are in primarily red counties - we haven't looked at a statewide mandate yet, and that's because the effectiveness of anything you put into place is the measure itself times the number of people who will follow it.
#ANDY BESHEAR MASKS PLUS#
Why not?īESHEAR: Well, first, what it takes to win are vaccines, plus masks, for a limited period of time. And while you've ordered state employees to wear masks, you have said you are not considering a statewide mandate. SHAPIRO: You say we know what it takes to win. And we've just got to understand that the virus sets the timetable, and while we have to adjust, we know what it takes to win. We are strong enough to make it through this. But we have gotten through so much already. We're about to have kids go back to school - in fact, mine went back for the first day today. We're dealing with the most aggressive variant that we have seen to date at a time when we have more frustration out there amongst Americans that we've seen probably since the very start. So how concerned are you about what's happening right now?īESHEAR: Well, I'm very concerned. The hospitalization rate is up 117%, compared to two weeks ago. Last week, Kentucky's positivity rate was close to 9%. SHAPIRO: Coronavirus cases in your state are surging, as they are in many parts of the country. Kentucky's rate remains below the national average at about 45%. Now that the delta variant is surging around the country, there's even more pressure to get Americans fully vaccinated. SHAPIRO: That's Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announcing a million-dollar reward in his state's vaccine lottery. Government officials have begged, pleaded and even bribed Americans to get the coronavirus vaccine.ĪNDY BESHEAR: This is going to be a special moment, and that's all because she did the right thing.
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