Kentucky’s swift action on COVID-19 demonstrates tried and true strategies from abroad

The coronavirus has finally come in force to the United States as many predicted that it would, but as things look bleak, there is still reason for Kentuckians to feel very hopeful. Governor Andy Beshear’s quick, decisive actions have put Kentucky in a strong position to push back against COVID-19 and may be one of the first states to see a return to normalcy when all’s said and done. His quick actions, many by executive order, reflect other successful policies from abroad.

Weeks ago, Europe was the epicenter of COVID-19. Many of us expatriates in Europe knew that it would not be long before the coronavirus ripped through America, and that day has unfortunately come. We urged friends and family to take the threat seriously and to social distance voluntarily. Some of us have seen the positive effects that strict social distancing can have on the transmission of coronavirus, for example my own experience in the Czech Republic.

On March 1, the Czech Republic where I’ve lived for nearly the past two years had its very first case of COVID-19. Only 11 days later, Prime Minister Andrej Babis declared a state of emergency and merely a few days after, on March 16, stated that all residents were ordered to stay at home. Many thought it was extreme, but as we saw European countries’ health systems falling like dominoes around us, particularly Italy and Spain, the idea was to be better safe than sorry.

Here we have implemented mandatory masks in public which has proven effective in limiting the transmission of the disease. We were amongst the first in Europe to declare an emergency, close schools, close public spaces, close the borders, and order folks to stay at home. During the Easter holiday, officials are now putting together concrete plans to help us ease into our normal lives again and we will likely be amongst the first European countries to do so. In essence, we have flattened the curve.

On March 6, the day of Kentucky’s first confirmed case of the virus, Governor Beshear took swift action and immediately declared a state of emergency. Restaurants, schools, and other establishments were quickly shut down thereafter. Beshear set up daily press briefings to keep citizens informed with the most current information - a crucial point in building public trust. Importantly, these restrictive actions were also met with serious economic intervention including relaxing of requirements for unemployment insurance, extension of drivers licenses, and moratoriums on evictions and utility shut offs.

I understand many Kentuckians feel a justified concern over civil liberties. I get that people would like to see bipartisan debate and not executive orders. But, the truth is that the sooner we take action, the sooner things can get back to normal, and the sooner we will be able to freely exercise our god-given freedoms without the fear of getting gravely ill or endangering our most vulnerable.

We are living in extraordinary times that took extraordinary measures, measures that Governor Beshear has been willing to take despite any polling concerns. What I can tell you from the Czech experience is that these measures will absolutely lead to better outcomes down the road. I believe that soon you will be discussing a slow and smart return to normal like we are now. But it will take patience, diligence, and importantly, solidarity which this country, so divided as it is, has admirably shown.

Bradley Blankenship is a Cincinnati-born, Kentucky-native journalist living in the Czech Republic. His reporting on COVID-19 in Europe has appeared in Xinhua News Agency.