New Kentucky coronavirus cases top 300 Tuesday, pushing total above 14,000
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 315 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky on Tuesday, edging up the statewide case total to 14,141 less than a week before the state is slated to enter its final phase of reopening.
The governor in a press release said all residents “have made the changes in our daily lives in order to keep our fellow Kentuckians safe from the disease.”
“It’s not only the compassionate thing to do, it’s also letting us reopen our economy without the problems we’re seeing in other states that threaten to reverse such efforts,” he said.
Eleven more people with the virus have died, Beshear also said, bringing the death toll to at least 537. Tuesday’s reported deaths include a 46-year-old woman from Harlan County; a 52-year-old woman from Allen County; three women in their 70s and a 90-year-old man from Clark County; an 84-year-old woman from Graves County, a 78-year-old woman from Fayette County; a 67-year-old man from Jefferson County; a 77-year-old woman from Shelby County and a 106-year-old man from Logan County.
“These are 11 Kentuckians whose families are hurting and who need all of us to keep them in mind and in our prayers,” the governor said in a press release.
There are 376 people currently hospitalized with the virus and 70 in intensive care, and at least 3,591 people have recovered.
In 169 nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the state, 1,670 residents have contracted the virus, as have 800 staff. At least 380 residents and 180 staff currently have COVID-19.
At 10 other long-term care facilities in Kentucky, including medical centers treating prisoners, psychiatric patients, and people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, at least 349 residents and 117 staff have tested positive. Seventy residents and 14 staff are currently infected.
At least 363,027 tests have been administered as capacity across the state continues expanding. There are currently 205 sites where people can get tested for the virus. Kroger is operating drive-thru testing sites this week in Lexington, Louisville, Shelbyville and Bowling Green.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 5:10 PM.
