Speaking from the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center, Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday revealed additional details of his plan to reopen the state’s economy, as well as reported newly confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and fatalities.
The governor said at his daily briefing that 184 new cases of the virus have been diagnosed, with 10 new deaths blamed on COVID-19 since Tuesday afternoon. Kentucky now has 4,539 confirmed cases and 235 (5.2 percent fatality rate) coronavirus deaths.
Wednesday’s 10 deaths are from Jefferson (5), Grayson (2), Warren, Jackson, and Hopkins counties. The 184 new case arose from 33 Kentucky counties, including nearby Hart, Muhlenberg, Butler, Edmonson, and Breckinridge.
Beshear noted that 1,359 (29.9 percent) people have been hospitalized with coronavirus, with 325 victims currently being treated in a hospital. Six-hundred-thirty-six patients (14.0 percent) have been treated in ICU, with 176 currently receiving care in intensive care.
The governor said 1,668 (36.7 percent) COVID-19 victims have recovered.
Approximately 6,000 Kentuckians have undergone COVID-19 testing over the last two days, increasing the state’s testing total to 54,101 (approximately 1.2 percent of Kentuckians).
Reopening economy
The governor unveiled a tentative reopening schedule for a variety of businesses allowed to soon resume operations. He cautioned, however, that in all cases “it will not be business as usual” and will require adherence to the 10 rules to reopening, along with industry specific requirements.
“We’ve got to do this right. I believe we can do this right,” Beshear said. “When we phase back in to work, remember, you don’t need an in-person meeting. Use the telephone. And now that we are starting to open up healthcare, see your doctor if you need to.”
This week, Kentucky began the phased reopening of healthcare services as the first step under Beshear’s Healthy at Work initiative, which describes public health benchmarks for reopening Kentucky’s economy. These benchmarks closely follow the White House’s Guidelines for Reopening America.
Beshear said if Kentuckians continue to battle coronavirus with promising results, the following business sectors are in line to restart:
- May 11 – Manufacturing, construction, vehicle and vessel dealerships, professional services (at 50 percent of pre-outbreak capacity), horse racing (minus spectators), pet grooming, and boarding
- May 20 – Retail, houses of worship
- May 25 – Social gatherings of no more than 10 people, barbers, salons, cosmetology businesses, and similar services
“We were able to come to an agreement yesterday with Churchill Downs. They will start accepting horses and people on the backside of the track May 11,” Beshear noted.
He said that on May 20, houses of worship would be allowed to conduct in-person services at reduced capacity, but that the allowance is contingent on church’s being able to provide social distancing, cleaning, sanitation, and other accommodations.
“A crowd is still going to be a dangerous thing until we are further along in defeating this virus. It’s something we need to continue to avoid,” he said.
Prohibition on evictions will last at least through May, if not longer, the governor said, and restaurants will not be allowed to reopen to in-person services during Phase 1. Public pools and summer camps will not be able to open in Phase 1, or possibly even Phase 2. Beshear added that daycare services reopening are also not part of Phase 1, as the state is looking at “hopefully a June solution” for reopening daycares.
At this time, Beshear said restaurants, gyms, campgrounds, and youth sports would possibly reopen in Phase 2, depending on how the virus “reacts to changing temperatures.”
(Photo of Gov. Andy Beshear courtesy of WCPO.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
