38 new Kentucky coronavirus cases pushes total to 955 as death toll reaches 45
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 38 new COVID-19 cases in Kentucky Sunday, pushing the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus to 955 as five more deaths brought the state’s death toll to 45.
Beshear said the lower-than-usual number of new cases was likely because fewer labs reported results on Sunday.
“I wouldn’t read too much into it today because of it being a Sunday and what labs are reporting,” he said. “With that said, we’ve had a number of days in a row, I think four, where we have been about the same.”
Beshear said it was a good sign because there are many cities and states where the numbers are doubling every day or every other day.
Of the five people who died Sunday, Beshear said three were from Jefferson County — an 80-year-old woman, a 66-year-old woman and a 54-year-old woman. There were also deaths reported in McLean County (an 85-year-old woman) and Woodford County (a 90-year-old woman).
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department announced eight new cases Sunday, bringing the total in Lexington to 153. That’s less than half the number of confirmed cases in Louisville, where there have been 313 people infected with the disease and at least 20 coronavirus-related deaths, according to Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.
Beshear announced cases in 20 counties, including the first confirmed cases in McLean County and Leslie County. More than 306 people have recovered from the virus and 18,767 people have been tested.
Kentucky has repeatedly been foiled in its attempts to offer drive-through testing, but on Sunday Beshear announced the state has entered a partnership with Gravity Diagnostics in Northern Kentucky to process up to 2,000 tests a day for the state. He said those tests will mostly be for people who live outside of Louisville, Lexington and Northern Kentucky.
Beshear said the lab will be able to provide results within 24 hours, which is crucial at a time when some labs are taking a week to provide results.
COVID-19 spreads in retirement community
The Democratic governor said there have been at least 80 tests conducted for people associated with River’s Bend Retirement Community in Lyon County. Two staff members and two residents have tested positive, Beshear said.
He continued to warn churches not to hold in-person services and criticized a pastor in Bullitt County who has defied the governor’s ban on all gatherings.
“We know it’s a scientific fact that him holding his service today, spread the virus within his congregation and at Christmas, he’s going to have fewer people in his congregation,” Beshear said. “My faith would never let me put someone else in that position.”
He warned that his administration will begin cracking down this week on violators of social distancing policies. “Perhaps those facilities shouldn’t be allowed to open anymore,” he said.
Beshear grew testy when talking about two Frankfort gyms that were sneaking people in through the back door. He said both gyms had been cited. He said he did not know the names of the gyms off the top of his head.
“It is already killing people and with an order out there that you cannot operate, you would open up the back door?” Beshear said. “My goodness, come on, we ought to be better than that and shame on those that are doing that.”
‘Our growth curve is flatter and better’
The governor also showed a series of charts in an attempt to illustrate that social distancing requirements are working. He said the number of cases in Kentucky is not growing as quickly as in other states.
“Our growth curve is flatter and better than pretty much every state out there,” said Dr. Steven Stack, Kentucky’s public health commissioner.
Stack said he believes cloth masks could be “a distraction” and won’t do as much to stop the spread of the disease as social distancing and washing your hands.
Kentucky residents who need advice about seeking treatment for COVID-19 may call (800) 722-5725. Anyone with personal protective equipment items to donate should call (833)-GIVE-PPE, or visit giveppe.ky.gov, or items can be taken to any state police post.
Kentuckians can call 1-833-KYSAFER to report people and businesses not following social distancing guidelines issued by federal and state officials. 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 donate.ky.gov.
Visit Kentucky’s coronavirus website, kycovid19.ky.gov, for more guidance about the disease.
This story was originally published April 5, 2020 at 5:53 PM.
