177 new Kentucky COVID-19 cases and 8 new deaths as state ramps up testing.
Gov. Andy Beshear Friday announced 177 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky, bringing the state’s total to 4,879 as the state’s steady plateau has continued amid increased testing.
“You cut off the top of the muffin,” Beshear said, referring to charts that show coronavirus projections. “You have saved so many lives. Keep it up.”
The number of people in the hospital with the disease has slowly increased this week and 334 people are currently hospitalized, with 178 people in intensive care. At least 1,752 people have recovered from the virus.
Beshear also announced eight new deaths Friday, bringing the state’s total to 248. At least 51 percent of those deaths have been related to nursing homes. A total of 752 nursing home residents have tested positive for COVID-19 including 25 new cases announced Friday. At least 311 staffers at nursing homes have tested positive.
The state has attempted to ramp up testing in preparation for reopening the economy and Beshear announced that a total of 57,648 tests have been conducted in Kentucky, which is about 1.29 percent of the population. The state has announced 9,174 new tests since Monday.
Beshear said the state conducted at least 5,128 tests at Kroger drive-through testing sites throughout the state this week, including the 1,612 at the site at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington. Another 848 people were tested at the testing site at the Walgreens on Executive Drive in Lexington.
“That shows how significantly we’ve ramped up testing,” Beshear said.
All of Green River Correctional Facility’s inmates and staff were tested this week, a total of 1,200 COVID-19 tests. At least 65 inmates and staff have tested positive, according to the Muhlenberg County Health Department, and Beshear expects to get the new results from Green River Correctional Facility early next week.
At least 24,840 unemployment claims filed in March still haven’t been processed and Beshear said the Cabinet for Education and Workforce Development is working on resolving the issues in those claims.
The state will begin a phased reopening of the economy on May 11, but houses of worship won’t be allowed to reopen to in-person services until May 20. There has been some animosity over the restrictions on in-person gatherings (including Attorney General Daniel Cameron urging Beshear to lift restrictions) but on Friday Beshear said some faith leaders will continue to hold virtual services even when they’re allowed to hold in-person services.
“You’ve got to space family units out,” Beshear said. “You’ve got to think about every part of that service.”
There will be no coronavirus update from Beshear Saturday, which was supposed to be the date of the 146th Kentucky Derby. Beshear encouraged everyone to take a break and avoid checking social media for updates on the coronavirus. That advice coincides with news of a protest planned by the Central Kentucky Tea Party chapter outside of the Capitol Saturday.
“Enjoy tomorrow,” Beshear said. “Turn everything off for a little while, invest in your mental and emotional health. I’m going to do it too.”
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 5:55 PM.
