273 new Kentucky coronavirus cases and 1 death. Eviction relief offered.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 273 new COVID-19 cases in Kentucky on Tuesday, bringing the state total to 53,319. He also announced one new death, putting the death toll at 997.
The governor said Tuesday’s new cases, like Monday’s, were artificially low, since many labs that process coronavirus tests were closed for the three-day weekend. That means the number of new cases and deaths is likely to be higher over the next four or five days.
“I would get ready to have very large numbers on both cases and likely deaths the next couple of days,” Beshear said. Only 1,393 new tests were logged in the last day, for a test total of 929,212. Last week set another seven-day record for new cases, with 4,971. A total of 72 additional deaths were also announced last week, making it the deadliest week on record and since the start of the pandemic.
The rate of people testing positive, a seven-day rolling average, is 3.91 percent. There are 510 people currently hospitalized with the virus, including state Democratic Sen. Gerald Neal of Louisville. There are 130 people with the virus in intensive care and 74 on ventilators.
Beshear said 13 new child care centers had reported at least one positive case of the virus, including 10 additional staff and five kids.
At K-12 schools since Thursday, 10 more students and three staff have tested positive. Forty-three more schools are reporting at least one case of the virus. At least 324 students and 133 staff actively have the virus.
At colleges and universities across Kentucky, 63 more students tested positive. Close to 750 students and 36 staff are actively infected. At least 31 higher education institutions have reported at least one case.
Help for landlords and tenants
The $15 million Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund went live on Tuesday morning. Renters and landlords outside of Jefferson County who’ve been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic can apply at www.teamkyhherf.ky.gov/. Kentucky is using CARES Act money to fund the program, which will assist tenants who owe rent and landlords who are owed rent. It will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until the fund is exhausted, Beshear said.
The fund will pay 90 percent of past-due rent, dating back to March 1, and may pay up to two months of future rent, Beshear said.
The fund was initially created to replace Beshear’s exeuctive order barring evictions, which he repealed last month. Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and White House put a halt to most residential evictions nationwide to help slow virus spread. Though there’s now a moratorium on evictions in Kentucky, Beshear opted to move ahead with the relief fund, anyway, knowing many renters and landlords need financial assistance.
This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 4:35 PM.
