LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The first step in ending the coronavirus pandemic began on Sunday, as the initial batch of Pfizer’s vaccine arrived at UPS Worldport.

From there, the 12,675 doses will be delivered 11 hospitals around the state, including Pikeville Medical Center.

But as the vaccine begins making its way across the state and nation, the latest numbers show the battle against the virus is not over yet.

Over the weekend, Kentucky saw more than 9,700 new cases reported over the weekend, bringing the total to more than 223,000.

Sixty-one more Kentuckians died over the weekend, raising the death toll to 2,207.

More than 1,700 Kentuckians remain hospitalized with COVID-19, including 434 in intensive care and 224 on ventilators.

The state’s positivity rate is at 8.52 percent.