‘Not a time to take things for granted.’ Kentucky reports 158 new COVID-19 cases, 6 more deaths.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 158 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Kentucky on Saturday, bringing the total up to at least 6,440 as the state readies for its gradual reopening on Monday.
The governor said the state’s infection rate continues to stay steady — “our numbers have certainly remained in that plateau” — but as businesses begin reopening, “our challenge, though, as we move forward, is to not let that second spike ... happen.”
“That second spike would shut down our economy again, and more importantly, we would lose more Kentuckians,” Beshear said.
Thirty-one of Saturday’s new coronavirus cases are in Jefferson County, 18 are in Warren County, and 27 are in Fayette County. The Lexington-Fayette County Public Health Department on Saturday reported another 23 cases among inmates at the Federal Medical Center, a federal prison in Lexington, where a blooming outbreak has so far infected at least 113 inmates. Fayette County has a total of 386 confirmed cases.
“The virus continues to be deadly,” he said, announcing that six more people have died from COVID-19-related complications, including four people from Graves County. At least 304 people have so far died from the virus in Kentucky.
The state continues aggressively ramping up its testing capacity. So far, at least 86,900 people have been tested, though Beshear said that number continues to be “artificially low,” since many labs are not reporting their negative tests.
At least 2,308 people have recovered from the virus, but the number of people in intensive care units increased to 226 on Saturday, up from 210 on Friday, and a total of 394 are currently hospitalized. The number of people hospitalized has been climbing since mid April, and Beshear said it’s being monitored.
Beshear will not hold a daily news update on Sunday, which is Mother’s Day. On Monday, the phased reopenings for non-health care businesses begin, including construction and manufacturing companies, pet grooming and photography businesses, and car dealerships. Funeral homes may resume limited capacity in-person services the following week, and retail stores may reopen.
On Friday two federal judges ruled that churches can hold in-person services as early as this weekend, just a few weeks before Beshear’s plan to let those services resume on May 20. A third judge issued a similar ruling Saturday.
Beshear pleaded with churches not to gather in person before they’re able to take enough precautions to protect attendees.
“What I’d ask is people, take your time. You don’t want your house of worship to be a place where the coronavirus spreads,” he said. For any church planning to convene on Sunday, “make sure you’ve followed all the rules,” he said.
Despite the state’s reopening, Beshear and Dr. Steven Stack, the public health commissioner, have strongly urged Kentuckians over the age of 65 and those with compromised immune systems or in at-risk categories, including anyone with heart, lung and kidney complications, to remain diligently healthy at home, because going out in public is not safe.
Stack on Saturday told all Kentuckians not to slide into complacency as businesses reopen and the weather gets warmer, because “the disease is still out there.”
“For those of you who are listening tonight, and for those you care about and love, even as restrictions are lifted,” Stack said, “there has never been a time more important than now” to continue following the state’s recommendations, which include stringent social distancing and wearing a mask whenever in public.
“We really need you to pay attention to these guidelines,” Stack said. “This is not a time to take things for granted.”
This story was originally published May 9, 2020 at 5:59 PM.
