Ohio Valley childhood obesity rates have increased putting kids at greater risk of severe COVID-19 illness
Ohio Valley ReSource · Childhood obesity & covid In October, University of Kentucky Children’s hospital reported a substantial rise in children hospitalized for COVID-19. The escalation began in July. Dr. Sean McTigue, medical director for pediatric infection prevention and control said all hospitalized children had one thing in common. “So our number one driver of […]
With more cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated Kentuckians, the Governor says get a booster
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear reported on Monday that more than 20% of all COVID-19 cases in October were among people who were fully vaccinated. Those cases have been on the rise since June — when the Delta variant began rapidly spreading in the U.S. Beshear said waning immunity was likely to blame and urged […]
How the Housing Shortage, the Pandemic and Climate Change have Collided in the Ohio Valley
Some residents in Ohio Valley communities are still struggling to keep their heads above water over a year into the pandemic. A main cause of concern: housing. The federal eviction moratorium ended in late August after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Biden administration efforts to extend the moratorium into October. While it lasted, […]
No Shelter: Eviction Protections are Latest Safety Net to Erode, as COVID-19 Rages On
In room 226 of the Relax Inn in Richmond, Kentucky, Melanie and Cody Poore do their best to make themselves at home. Melanie has draped some of her old comforters over the motel’s thin bedcovers, and Cody keeps the minifridge stocked with energy drinks he likes. Beyond the walls, traffic rushes by on I-75; both […]
Long Into The Pandemic, Ohio Valley Health Departments Aren’t Just Fighting COVID-19
The pandemic has swamped health departments. Since August, Ohio Valley health departments have been dealing with a massive surge in cases and that means more testing, contact tracing and phone calls. Although disease investigation is a core service of health departments, the pandemic has demanded a continual, robust response, placing strain on public health employees. […]
Gov. Beshear Says Kentucky Hospitals On The “Brink Of Collapse” Means More Death
Kentucky’s COVID-19 situation continues to worsen and that’s putting a strain on hospitals and medical resources. On Tuesday, Kentucky’s top health official, Dr. Steven Stack, said new cases are higher than ever and that’s leading to a serious problem for hospitals. “And though you may not be in a hospital right now, our hospitals are […]
More Ohio Valley Children Are Becoming Severely Sick With COVID-19. Pediatricians Are Worried About What Lies Ahead
For nearly a year and a half, Kaja Lowe didn’t feel comfortable letting her kids out into the world. She took all the precautions. Early on in the pandemic, she would get groceries delivered to her car before spraying them down with disinfectant. Later, she made sure her family wore masks and sanitized their hands […]
Beshear Signs Executive Order Mandating Masks In Kentucky Schools
On Tuesday, Kentucky reported its highest number of COVID-19 cases since January. Gov. Andy Beshear announced 2,500 new cases and seven new deaths. Beshear warned that hospitals are rapidly filling with COVID-19 patients. “We expect to have the most Kentuckians hospitalized due to COVID in two weeks than we’ve had at any time during this […]
Nearly Half A Million In Ohio Valley Lose Jobless Benefits
An analysis by the Ohio Valley ReSource showed that roughly 488,000 people in Ohio and West Virginia have lost supplemental unemployment payments after Republican governors there scrapped the federal unemployment benefit programs put in place during the pandemic. Another 65,000 people in Kentucky eligible for the payments await a decision by the Democratic governor there […]
Appalachian Community Uses Theater To Reckon With Racism, COVID, And The Trauma Of 2020
George Floyd was murdered by police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, a cold and faraway place from the vantage point of Harlan County, Kentucky. But the energy of that long, hot summer reached a group of Harlan high schoolers, and soon enough, this small, rural town was in the midst of a national movement. The […]
