KY sees 92 new cases of COVID-19, including 1-year-old; Trump grants disaster declaration
Gov. Andy Beshear Saturday announced 92 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 394, the highest increase Kentucky has seen in a single day.
Beshear reiterated that the state is expecting to see a surge in cases in the coming weeks and that the number is likely to increase.
“We know there’s going to be more cases and we know there’s going to be a day when we have more than the 92 we have,” Beshear said. “We also know that there’s going to be more deaths as we go. But we’re ready for this.”
As Beshear wrapped up his press conference, the Northern Kentucky Health Department announced its first death, a Kenton County resident over the age of 60, bringing the state death total to 9. All of the patients who have died in Kentucky have been over the age of 60.
There were new cases in at least 24 counties Saturday, including in Fayette County, where 66 people have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. Beshear said a 1-year-old tested positive in Fayette County. It is unclear if the child is a Fayette County resident.
There have been a few children who have tested positive for the coronavirus, including a 2-year-old in Shelby County, a 6-year-old and a 7-year-old in Hardin County and a 3-year-old in an unknown county. While children can catch the coronavirus, early research into the disease has shown that children recover fairly quickly.
He also announced cases in Boone, Boyle, Bracken, Breckenridge, Butler, Campbell, Carroll, Clark, Daviess, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Grant, Hopkins, Jefferson, Kenton, Madison, McCracken, Mercer, Nicholas, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Warren and Washington Counties.
Approximately 64 people have recovered from the disease, Beshear said, adding that there are cases where we don’t see people presenting symptoms at all.
Beshear also announced “good news” that President Donald Trump granted Kentucky’s disaster declaration, which will give the state access to increased federal funding to combat the coronavirus and its economic toll.
The disaster declaration will allow FEMA to reimburse the state for up to 75 percent of the costs associated with combating the coronavirus, including supplies.
There is still a critical shortage of supplies in Kentucky and across the country as states are having to bid against each other and the federal government for personal protective equipment. The shortage presents risks to healthcare workers and has delayed widespread testing in the state.
Beshear said he is still working on getting drive through testing up and running, but that he doesn’t want to promise anything because it still is not ready.
Despite the state taking aggressive measures to prevent people from gathering in large groups — including the shutdown of some public parks and recreation areas in cities and counties across the state — Beshear said there were reports of around 100 people gathering in Louisville last night and reports of some places still holding funerals for large groups of people.
Beshear said currently they are just asking law enforcement to ask people not to gather in large groups, but he said if it continues, that may change.
“As we continue to move forward and with large crowds, we may have to get a little tougher,” Beshear said.
This story was originally published March 28, 2020 at 5:24 PM.
