2 new Kentucky coronavirus cases reported in Lexington. State total is now 18.
Two new patients have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Fayette County, bringing Kentucky’s total to 18 confirmed cases, Gov. Andy Beshear announced late Saturday.
Beshear said in a news release that the two new positives are related to an existing case. There are now five patients with COVID-19 in Fayette County.
Earlier Saturday, Beshear announced two other new COVID-19 patients: one in Nelson County and one in Louisville.
In Nelson County, the 53-year-old man who tested positive refused to go into self-isolation, defying medical advice, and had to be forced into home isolation. Law enforcement is currently stationed outside of the man’s home, Beshear said.
Kentucky’s 18 confirmed cases include six in Harrison County, five in Fayette County, four in Jefferson County, one in Bourbon County, one in Montgomery County and one in Nelson County. The state’s first COVID-19 patient in Harrison County has fully recovered. Beshear said Saturday that one patient is in critical condition and may not recover.
In his daily news conference, Beshear said the virus is being spread from person-to-person in Kentucky. To help slow the spread of the virus, his administration has taken a number of steps, including closing schools to in-person classes and recommending the cancellation of all community gatherings, including church services.
“There’s probably going to be a time when people that you know have this virus,” Beshear said. “We’re going to make it through it. For 80 percent of them, they’re gonna be fine. But we really need to make sure, Kentucky, that we remain calm. We’re going to get through it.”
Beshear also told all hospitals in the state to stop performing any elective procedures by the close of business Wednesday and told all child care centers to plan for closure on short notice, possibly within 72 hours.
Beshear is expected to provide more details about the two new Fayette County cases at a 4 p.m. news conference Sunday.
Kentucky residents can call the state coronavirus hotline — 1-800-722-5725 — for advice about when to seek medical treatment. Those with symptoms of coronavirus — cough, fever and difficultry breathing — are strongly urged to call the hotline or their physician before visiting a doctor.
Visit Kentucky’s coronavirus website, kycovid19.ky.gov, for more guidance about the disease.
Kentucky coronavirus cases
- Patient 1: 27-year-old female in Harrison County - Recovered
- Patient 2: 40-year-old male in Fayette County
- Patient 3: 69-year-old male in Jefferson County
- Patient 4: 67-year-old female in Harrison County
- Patient 5: 68-year-old male in Harrison County
- Patient 6: 46-year-old male in Fayette County
- Patient 7: 54-year-old female in Harrison County
- Patient 8: 60-year-old male in Harrison County
- Patient 9: 51-year-old male in Harrison County
- Patient 10: 31-year-old female in Fayette County
- Patient 11: Jefferson County*
- Patient 12: 66-year-old male in Bourbon County
- Patient 13: 68-year-old female in Jefferson County
- Patient 14: 80-year-old female in Jefferson County
- Patient 15: 53-year-old male in Nelson County
- Patient 16: 56-year-old male in Montgomery County
- Patient 17: Fayette County*
- Patient 18: Fayette County*
*the state has not released demographic information for these patients
This story was originally published March 14, 2020 at 8:25 PM.
