3 new Kentucky coronavirus cases found in Fayette, Jefferson and Harrison. Total is 11.
Three new presumptive positive tests for novel coronavirus were confirmed in Kentucky on Thursday, bringing the total number to 11, Gov. Andy Beshear said.
One is in Fayette County and one is in Jefferson County, Beshear said in an afternoon Capitol news conference. Both are in isolation — one in a hospital, the other at home. The other is in Harrison County, Judge-Executive Alex Barnett announced on Facebook Thursday night.
Beshear confirmed that Thursday’s new Louisville case is the Humana employee that the company, earlier in the day, announced had tested positive for the viral respiratory illness.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases so far to three in Lexington, two in Louisville and six in Harrison County. Barnett said there are links between all six cases in Harrison County.
Beshear is expected to have more details on the new cases Friday morning.
As of Thursday night, 118 people had been tested in Kentucky. At least three labs are now able to process COVID-19 tests in Kentucky — the state Department for Public Health lab in Frankfort, a University of Louisville lab, and LabCorp, a private health care diagnostics company.
Beshear on Wednesday announced the first Jefferson County COVID-19 patient, a 60-year-old man who had been in isolation at Norton Brownsboro Hospital, had been discharged and is now isolated at home.
Beshear has called for broad restrictions of church services and community gatherings in the upcoming week. He asked they either be canceled, postponed, or done virtually, in order to prevent community spread of COVID-19 to the state’s most vulnerable populations: those over the age of 60, and those with underlying health issues, including someone with diabetes, heart, lung and kidney disease.
Late Thursday, legislative leaders said the General Assembly will take Friday and Monday off as they assess safety in the Capitol.
“This will not affect the number of legislative days left in this session,” the leaders said. “However, it will provide an opportunity to evaluate safety procedures as we move through the remainder of session. We anticipate resuming normal legislative business on Tuesday, March 17.”
Beshear also has advised businesses around the state to allow employees to work from home whenever possible, and for employers to provide adequate paid leave for employees so they don’t feel pressured to be in the office. State prisons and similar correctional facilities have been closed indefinitely to visitors, long-term care facilities are prohibiting most visitors, and school districts have been asked to develop plans to close on short notice.
Kentucky residents can call the state coronavirus hotline — 1-800-722-5725 — for advice about when to seek medical treatment. Visit Kentucky’s coronavirus website, kycovid19.ky.gov, for more guidance about the disease.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 5:21 PM.
