From the Kentucky Department of Public Health re: COVID-19 Reporting, Vaccines, Masks & Quarantines

From the Kentucky Department of Public Health re: COVID-19 Reporting, Vaccines, Masks & Quarantines

Reporting

KDPH is re-setting facilities who haven’t had new COVID-19 cases in staff/residents since 12/15/20 to zero, and those facility names will fall off of the report. There are many facilities on the list that had large spring/summer outbreaks but haven’t had any activity since then. KDPH is hopeful that by moving those facilities off the main list to an inactive list, it will make it easier for its team to spot facilities in trouble. It should also help them better see how the vaccine helps lower cases in LTCFs.

KDPH is also working on reaching out to all of the facilities on the current list to have them certify their 2020 data. They hope to have the 2020 data certified by the end of January/early February.

If you have any questions, please contact Kristy M. Bolen, MPA via one of the methods below.

Kristy M. Bolen, MPA

Epidemiologist II

Kentucky Department for Public Health, Epidemiology & Health Planning

Work Cell: 502-229-3468

Email: Kristy.Bolen@ky.gov

Masks & Quarantines After Vaccination

Vaccination has only been proven to prevent severe disease. The vaccines have not been proven to prevent mild disease or carriage and shedding of the virus. For now, the recommendation remains to wear a mask, even after both doses of a vaccine, to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to unvaccinated individuals and, because even though vaccines are 90%+ effective in preventing severe disease, there is not a way to tell who the 5-10% of non-responders will be. Likewise, quarantine/isolation after known or probable exposure or positive test guidance has not been changed.

If you have any questions, please contact David J. Bensema, MD, MBA, FACP via one of the methods below.

David J. Bensema, MD, MBA, FACP

Infectious Disease Branch Manager

Kentucky Department for Public Health

Cabinet for Health and Family Services

275 East Main Street

Frankfort, KY 40621

Phone: 502-564-6539 ext. 4086

Email: david.bensema@ky.gov