191 new Kentucky COVID-19 cases and 10 new deaths. Outbreak in Bowling Green worsens.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 191 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday in Kentucky, bringing the state’s total to 6,853 as people have begun to slowly start resuming their activities.
“We’ve got to avoid the temptation for this summer to be like past summers,” Beshear said. “Our health and our economy have to be our top priority.”
Beshear also announced 10 coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the state’s death toll to 321. At least 2,546 people have recovered from the virus.
The virus has continued to spread in Western Kentucky, which has several counties with a high level of cases per capita. Beshear said there were 71 new cases in Warren County Tuesday, bringing the total to 637. As of Monday, Bowling Green had the seventh highest case rate per capita in Kentucky.
Lexington has also seen a steep increase in cases because of an outbreak at the Federal Medical Center. The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department says there are 426 cases in Fayette County, an increase of 15 cases from Monday, 10 of which were related to the federal prison on Leestown Road.
According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 157 inmates and six staff members at the prison have tested positive for the disease. One inmate has died.
Beshear said Tuesday he’s concerned that people may start to feel a false sense of security with the virus. The Democratic governor said he worries that the state’s phased reopening will contribute to a false sense of security, but that reopening is necessary.
“Where we are economically right now, we’ve got to try to do this and do it safely,” Beshear said.
He also urged people to put aside misinformation about the disease and pledge that he would not “sacrifice” older Kentuckians.
“Every Kentuckian has value,” Beshear said. “Every Kentuckian counts.”
Dr. Steven Stack, Kentucky’s public health commissioner, said early studies appear to suggest that warm weather doesn’t necessarily reduce the spread of COVID-19, dampening some hope that the virus would slow in the summer as the flu does.
Beshear has said it is unlikely that pools will be able to reopen for the summer, but said he is hopeful that they may be able to open for exercise and swimming laps. He said swim teams may be a possibility.
The fate of another summer staple, the mall, remains uncertain. Beshear said Tuesday the state is working on guidelines for malls but that food courts will have to remain closed at least until other restaurants reopen.
There are 379 people currently hospitalized with the virus, including a second Kentuckian that appears to be suffering from a rare coronavirus-related illness called pediatric multi-symptom inflammatory syndrome. The syndrome causes multiple organs to inflame in children and may not be accompanied with more classic symptoms of COVID-19, such as a cough and difficulty breathing.
Stack said a 16-year-old was admitted to the hospital out of an abundance of caution and is not in intensive care, unlike the 10-year-old who’s case was announced Monday. Stack said the 10-year-old appears to be improving slightly but remains on a ventilator.
There have been no reported deaths in the U.S. from the inflammation syndrome that appears to be affecting children, Stack said, but he warned that some children have come close. The condition is rare and most children appear to be resilient to COVID-19 in general.
On the other end of the spectrum, the number of cases of COVID-19 in nursing homes has continued to rise. On Tuesday, Beshear said 901 residents of nursing homes have tested positive for the virus and 183 residents and two nursing home staffers have died so far.
Beshear also announced more than 6,000 new tests Tuesday, bringing the total number of tests run in Kentucky to 110,609. He said testing capacity is no longer a challenge, with more than 50 testing locations available in the state.
“Our challenge is not going to be capacity,” Beshear said. “It’s going to be getting each and every one of you to go get tested.”
Visit Kentucky’s coronavirus website, kycovid19.ky.gov, for more guidance about the disease and testing options.
This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 5:44 PM.
