number of patients who are hospitalized for COVID-19 has declined 83% since January.

“We would not be here today were it not for the collective effort of so many Kentuckyians,” said Dr. Stack. “While I wish it weren’t for this reason, it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to come into Kentuckyians’ lives and to serve with the team at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), as well as with local health departments across the state. Thank you, Team Kentucky, and here’s to a better summer ahead.”

The Governor said he would not yet end the commonwealth's state of emergency because major programs, grants and executive orders that continue to help Kentuckyians impacted by COVID-19 would be at risk if it weren't still in place, including a $96 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for vaccine distribution and administration.

Kentuckians 18 and older who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 can sign up for three chances to win $1 million dollars. Those 12 to 17 years old can sign up for 15 chances to win a full scholarship to any Kentucky public college, university, technical or trade school. Winners will be announced Friday, July 2; Friday, July 30; and Friday, Aug. 27. To enter the drawings and for more information, visit

ShotAtAMillion.ky.gov.

To date, 349,780 Kentuckians have signed up for the $1 million drawings and 19,579 Kentuckians have signed up for the full tuition scholarship drawings.

The Governor thanked close partners in the state's fight against COVID-19 over the past 15 months, including: American Sign Language interpreter, Virginia Moore; Dr. Stack; and CHFS Secretary Eric Friedlander.

The Governor recognized that for the families of 7,147 Kentuckians lost to the virus, the pain and sadness of the COVID-19 pandemic will never go away. But he said the Kentuckians whose lives were cut short will never be forgotten.

“Reading the ages and counties of the dead, almost daily, is the hardest thing I have ever done,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are in the process of developing a permanent monument that will replace that sea of flags on the Capitol lawn representing every