39 new Kentucky coronavirus cases found. Total is 163. More businesses must close.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 39 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky Tuesday, including someone who attended a “coronavirus party,” bringing the statewide total to at least 163 cases. He said four Kentuckians have fully recovered from the virus.
Beshear also said all businesses that aren’t “life-sustaining” must close to in-person traffic by end-of-business Thursday. He said he will issue an order Wednesday with specific details about which businesses will be impacted, but assured Kentuckians that grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, banks and other critical businesses will remain open.
He again encouraged all businesses to let employees work from home whenever possible.
“This thing is ramping up like we knew that it would and we have to be ready to protect our citizens,” Beshear said. “Please know that it is just the next step we need to take.”
Beshear said the order closing businesses will last for at least 10 days and can be renewed.
“I don’t want anybody out there to think in 10 days we will be able to ease restrictions,” Beshear said, saying that is unlikely. “There will be a light at the end of the tunnel, even though we don’t know how far away.”
Beshear said social distancing is crucially important as the number of COVID-19 cases surge in Kentucky and around the world. He said he was “mad” that someone tested positive after attending a “coronavirus party.”
“Anyone who goes to something like this may think they’re indestructible, but it’s someone else’s loved one that they are going to hurt,” Beshear said. “We are battling for the health and the lives of our parents and our grandparents. Don’t be callous as to intentionally go to something and expose yourself to something that will hurt other people. We ought to be much better than that.”
Beshear said it was a group of young adults in their 20s who attended the party. He said he doesn’t believe the people there knew someone had the virus and urged Kentuckians to forgive the person.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department announced 14 new cases in Lexington Tuesday, six of which Beshear was able to confirm. That brings Lexington’s total to 28. He also said there were new cases in Christian County, Clark County, Daviess County, Franklin County, Jefferson County, Kenton County, Martin County, Menifee County, Muhlenberg County, Pulaski County and Warren County.
At least one of the people who tested positive was a Louisville firefighter who lives outside of Jefferson County. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a video conference that the city is still determining how many firefighters will have to be quarantined for 14 days.
Health officials in Boone County, Campbell County and Webster County also announced new cases Tuesday.
In Fayette County, health department officials said the latest group of patients include some who tested positive after attending a small party in Lexington. They advised people not to gather for board games or socializing, even if it is a group of less than 10 people.
“This is why it is important for everyone — whether they’re sick, symptomatic or seemingly fine — to follow the public health guidelines by staying home,” said Kevin Hall, a spokesman for the health department.
Beshear said he is continuing his effort to get medical workers more personal protective equipment, which is in extremely short supply nationally. Kentucky has received 41,744 respirators, 99,493 surgical masks, 18,936 face shields, 15,439 gowns, 79 coveralls and 54,972 gloves from the federal government, but Beshear said it is not enough.
“It’s not nearly what we asked for, just like every other state,” Beshear said. “We need significantly more and one of our major challenges as a state is not having enough of this.”
He said the state was recently bidding on protective equipment but lost out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“It is a challenge,” Beshear said. “The federal government says ‘states, you need to go find your supply chain’ and then the federal government ends up buying from that supply chain. Now, that’s not just us, that’s everybody else. I’m not feeling sorry for us at all. I’m going to do what it takes to run down every lead, every buyer in every direction to make sure we can get what we need.”
Beshear praised someone who anonymously dropped off 4,000 swabs at the Capitol, which are important for testing at a time of national shortages.
The lack of protective equipment not only limits Kentucky’s ability to expand testing, but impacts people dealing directly with those who test positive for the disease.
“It’s what creates some danger for our front-line health care workers,” Beshear said.
The Democratic governor said he knew of at least four first responders and health care workers who have tested positive for the respiratory disease in Kentucky.
Beshear also signed into law a bill that would allow unlimited non-traditional instruction days in Kentucky’s public schools and said the state has received permission from the federal government to cancel K-PREP testing this spring. Kentucky’s interim education commissioner, Kevin Brown, has said schools should be prepared to close until the end of the school year if necessary.
Kentucky residents can call the state coronavirus hotline — 1-800-722-5725 — for advice about when to seek medical treatment. People with symptoms of coronavirus — cough, fever and difficulty breathing — should call their health care provider directly, Beshear said.
Kentuckians can call 1-833-KYSAFER to report people and businesses not following social distancing guidelines issued by federal and state officials. Wait times could be long, Beshear warned, saying the phone line got more than 2,000 calls in its first day.
Visit Kentucky’s coronavirus website, kycovid19.ky.gov, for more guidance about the disease.
Donations to help people who have been economically affected by the virus can be made to the Team Kentucky fund. Tax-free donations can be made at https://secure.kentucky.gov/formservices/PPC/KYCOVID-19Donate.
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 5:38 PM.
