PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Pike County Judge-Executive Ray Jones was joined Thursday morning by local health leaders from the Pike County Health Department, Pikeville Medical Center, Appalachian Regional Healthcare and Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation to sound the alarm about the surge in coronavirus cases, being propelled by the delta variant.

Pike County Health Department Director Tammy Riley said that the bottom line is that the current surge in cases is due to a high number of people who have not been vaccinated.

Riley pointed out that since July 18, 350 people have been hospitalized with the virus in Pike County. Of those, only six were vaccinated.

All of those who spoke at Thursday’s press conference spoke of the need for more vaccinations, both to protect the public and end the pandemic. They also spoke out about an epidemic of misinformation about the vaccines, and recommended that people stop listening to social media and speak to their doctors for accurate information.