8 more COVID-19 deaths in Kentucky as cases jump by 204. Retail further restricted.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 204 new cases of the coronavirus in Kentucky Wednesday, the highest daily increase yet, bringing the statewide total to 1,346. He announced eight new deaths, upping the statewide death toll to at least 73.
The Democratic governor also issued an executive order that restricts entrance into grocery stores or other life-essential retailers to one member of a household at a time, with some limited exceptions.
He also said Kentucky has received federal funding that will allow the state to begin distributing an additional $600 per week for people receiving unemployment as early as tomorrow evening. A record number of Kentuckians have applied for unemployment as much of the state has shut down to avoid spreading the virus.
Beshear listed 51 counties with new COVID-19 cases, but only announced 15 new cases in Jefferson County, far lower than the 76 new cases Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced Wednesday. Fischer said Louisville is up to 478 cases and 31 deaths.
At least 339 people have fully recovered from the virus in Kentucky, at least 205 people are currently hospitalized and 93 people are in intensive care units, Beshear said.
17 more KY nursing home residents positive for COVID-19
Among the new confirmed cases were 17 residents in Kentucky nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, bringing the total to 72. Beshear said 25 nursing homes have reported cases among residents or staff and that 13 residents in Kentucky have died of coronavirus-related causes, an increase of two from Wednesday. Across those nursing homes, 35 staff members have tested positive for the virus.
Beshear has not released the names of the nursing homes and his administration did not provide a list of the facilities when asked by the Herald-Leader early Wednesday.
Four of the deaths Beshear announced Wednesday were from Jefferson County, three were from Christian County and one was from Calloway County. At least two of the people who died were from Western State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Christian County. At the hospital, 16 people have tested positive — nine patients and seven staff members.
There was one new confirmed case at Green River Correctional Facility, bringing the total at the prison to 15. Nine are inmates and six are staff.
Coronavirus hits black Kentuckians harder
The governor released statistics Wednesday that show the coronavirus is disproportionately affecting black Kentuckians.
About 12 percent of people who have died from COVID-19 were black, Beshear reported. About 8.3 percent of the state’s population is black.
The state only knows the race of 66 percent of its confirmed cases, but said 80 percent of those cases are white, 11.76 percent are black, 2.5 percent are asian and 2.28 percent are multi-racial.
Door-to-door solicitation banned
Beshear issued a new executive order that says only one person per household can enter a grocery store or other retail store that remains open. Entire families shouldn’t be going to the store together, he said. Single parents or people who look after individuals with disabilities who can’t be left home alone can still go to the store together.
“It’s going to help your families stay safer because you’ll hopefully have less people going into the store and being potentially exposed,” said LaTasha Buckner, Beshear’s chief of staff.
The executive order also bans door-to-door solicitations, which Beshear said could spread the disease like a bee pollinating flowers.
Beshear said his administration is continuing its efforts to stop a handful of churches in the state that are defying his ban on all gatherings. Those churches should expect to see government officials in coming days, he said.
Fewer than 17 Kentucky churches still plan to host in-person gatherings this Sunday, which is Easter, Beshear said.
Beshear ended his daily news conference with a tribute to singer John Prine, who died of complications from the coronavirus Tuesday night. He played a recording of Prine singing the state anthem, My Old Kentucky Home.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 6:01 PM.
