Kentucky coronavirus deaths top 1,000. 667 new cases and 16 deaths Wednesday.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 667 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky on Wednesday, edging the state’s case total up to 53,977. Sixteen more people with the virus have died, putting the death toll at 1,013.
The deaths reported Wednesday pushed Kentucky past a thousand deaths attributable to the virus, which Beshear called a “very difficult milestone.”
“What this says is the amount of loss we’re going to experience depends on us. Each one of these people is so much more than [the numbers] we read off,” Beshear said, tearing up. “We owe it to them to work hard to make sure we limit the future casualties.”
Kentucky’s number of deaths is low when compared to other surrounding states. Indiana has reported at least 3,173 deaths from the virus, Tennessee has logged at least 1,931 deaths, and Ohio has had 4,324 deaths. Nationwide, the virus has killed nearly 190,000 people in the last six months.
Kentucky blunted its infection curve early on but it spiked mid-summer, which contributed to a rise in deaths. “It’s a smaller tragedy than we might have otherwise had had we not taken the steps we’ve taken in the last six months,” said Dr. Steven Stack, public health commissioner.
“But the harm is still substantial,” Stack said, and “the struggle is not over.”
To honor those Kentuckians who’ve died, Beshear ordered state buildings to lower their flags to half-staff starting Thursday for one week. Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m., Beshear will address Kentuckians about the fatality milestone.
The rate of people testing positive remains below 4 percent, at 3.84 percent. A month ago, the positivity rate hovered around 6 percent, Beshear pointed out, emphasizing the importance of his recommendation for K-12 schools to wait until Sept. 28 to start in-person classes.
Though the statewide positivity rate is dropping, 24 counties still carry “red zone” designations with the White House for having rates that are 10 percent or higher. Those counties include Warren, Logan, Pulaski, Calloway and Crittenden, where schools have already started or plan to start before Sept. 28.
Beshear said he’s worried about “coronavirus fatigue” and how that could contribute to another spike this month. He also asked Kentuckians to get their flu shots. “The last thing we need is a huge flu outbreak on top of this,” he said.
Twenty students in K-12 schools and 14 staff are newly positive. At least 99 districts have reported at least one case of COVID-19, and 345 students and 149 staff and teachers currently have the virus.
The state’s reporting another 32 college students and four staff have tested positive. Forty faculty and staff and 1,044 students actively have the virus. Of those, 610 are at the University of Kentucky.
Five more residents and 14 staff at nursing and assisted living homes have contracted the virus. Overall, 480 residents and and 319 staff have the virus.
There are 558 people hospitalized with the virus, 153 in intensive care and 76 on ventilators. At least 937,153 tests have been administered.
This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 4:36 PM.
