90 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky, bringing total to 831. Six new deaths reported.
Gov. Andy Beshear Friday announced 90 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky, including six new deaths, bringing the statewide total to 831 cases and 37 coronavirus related deaths.
“We are not escalating every day or every other day right now, but we will escalate larger in the way that other states do,” Beshear said. “I believe that is because of the steps that you are taking.”
Beshear said there were six deaths Friday. Four of the deaths were in Jefferson County — a 60-year-old woman, an 88-year-old woman, a 64-year-old man and a 69-year-old man in Jefferson County — one was in Madison County (an 86-year-old female) and one in Hopkins County (a man in his 70s).
“These are six losses to all of us, whether we know these families or not,” Beshear said.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department announced 17 new cases Friday, and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced 33 new cases in Jefferson County. Louisville has reported a total of 14 deaths and Lexington has reported a total of five deaths.
Beshear announced cases in 30 counties, including the first reported cases in Carter County and Johnson County. More than 15,572 people have been tested for the virus and at least 228 people have fully recovered.
“Folks if this is the first one you’ve heard in your county again, just breathe it’s been there,” Beshear said. “It has been in every county.”
Beshear said there are positive cases among patients in six nursing homes and among staff in three nursing homes. He did not say the names of the nursing homes or where they are located. At least one case has been reported in Rosedale Green, an assisted living center in Covington.
“This is an area where people are very susceptible and we want to protect them the best we can,” Beshear said.
Headed into what is expected to be a beautiful weekend, Beshear emphasized the need for people to stay home and not participate in any public gatherings. He warned people that, if they have to go out, to stay six feet away from other people.
Beshear shared a projection that said if there is “poor compliance” with the social distancing measures already in place, it could lead to 13,000 deaths in Kentucky. He said that if there was “strict compliance,” based on that projection, the number of deaths could be as low as 2,000.
“This strict compliance is one of the best projections for us,” Beshear said. “So let’s make sure that we can do everything we can do to protect those who are around us.”
The social distancing measures are already expected to last through April, but Beshear hedged when asked if it would extend through May. He said if we don’t see the peak in New York in the next couple of weeks, the social distancing measures could go through May.
Beshear said 400 beds at UK’s Nutter Fieldhouse will be really important because it will allow the state to increase its hospital capacity. He said there is still a massive shortage of personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals and he renewed his call for people to donate any PPE they may have, as he continues to experience the federal government buy supplies out from under him. He said he was contacted by a chocolate company that donated 2,000 gloves.
“The number of people who have come together, who are providing these supplies, what you’re doing is protecting our frontline workers,” Beshear said.
Beshear said they are accepting donations at all state police posts and at transportation cabinet buildings in Louisville and Lexington.
Beshear said if people are healthy and have a N95 mask (which filter out 95 percent of small droplets called aerosols) they shouldn’t be wearing it to the grocery store, they should be donating it to make sure it goes to healthcare workers and first responders.
The CDC issued guidelines Friday that recommended that people who are not showing symptoms wear cloth masks or homemade masks, which could help prevent the spread of the disease while reserving the high-grade masks for healthcare workers.
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 5:42 PM.
