Kentucky reports 477 new COVID-19 cases, 10 deaths as numbers continue to escalate
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 477 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky on Wednesday, bringing the statewide total up to 20,677. Ten more people with the novel coronavirus have died, putting the death toll at 645.
For five out of the last seven days, the daily number of new cases in Kentucky has exceeded 400. Daily case increases remained under 300 for much of June and under 200 for most of May and April. The current rate of Kentuckians testing positive also continues to rise, topping out Wednesday at 4.6 percent.
“Here in Kentucky, we are in a new time of escalating cases,” Beshear said in a written update. “It shows you how critical this facial covering requirement is. And we have to end the silliness. Challenges to this mean the loss of lives and could send us the way of Arizona or Florida, and we don’t want that,” he said, referring to the executive order he signed last week mandating that facial coverings be worn by virtually all Kentuckians when in public, including outdoors if people can’t stay six feet apart.
The deaths announced Wednesday included a 67-year-old man from Hardin County; a 67-year-old woman from Jefferson County; three men, ages 70, 73, and 88 from Laurel County; a 71-year-old woman from Logan County; a 73-year-old man and a 94-year-old woman from Casey County; and a 90-year-old woman and a 96-year-old man from Fayette County.
There are 445 people currently hospitalized with the virus, 92 in intensive care, and at least 5,475 have recovered.
The state has administered at least 498,179 tests — an increase from Tuesday of about 3,800. Kroger will continue to offer free drive-thru testing in Lexington, Louisville and Independence through Friday, but as Beshear noted earlier this week, slots filled up quickly.
Free testing without an appointment in Lexington is also available this week at Shiloh Baptist Church at 237 E. Fifth Street. Testing availability runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 16; 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 5:30 PM.
