LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This is a weekly blog with real-time updates on COVID-19 numbers and other related content in Kentucky for the week of September 21, 2020. Governor Andy Beshear is scheduled to give updates Monday through Thursday at 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 4
4:45 p.m.
“We have to do better.”
It was his reminder for Kentuckians to become serious about the coronavirus as he announced 616 new cases on Sunday.
With these numbers, Kentucky shattered the previous week’s record with 6,126 cases reported.
“This has not been a good week,” Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Department for Public Health, said. “The president of our nation, his wife and others in the White House – one of the most secure places in the entire world – have tested positive for COVID-19. Back home, Kentucky set yet another record high week for new cases for the second week in a row. We disregard this threat at our own peril.”
Seventy-six of those cases were reported in the 18 and under demographic with the youngest case being found in a 5-month-old.
Four deaths were reported on Sunday including a 71-year-old man from Jefferson County. There has been 1,209 Kentuckians lost to the virus.
Dr. Stack also reminds Kentuckians that prevention through behaviors is our main defense.
Numbers including current number of tests given and positivity rates will be delayed until Monday due to limited reporting.
Kentucky currently stands at 72,617 cases reported since March.
Saturday, October 3
5:00 p.m.
Kentucky has hit another milestone and not in a good way as state officials announced 1,275 new cases on Saturday and the highest number of cases overall this week.
Gov. Beshear’s office said there were 166 new cases found in the 18 and younger demographic with the youngest case reported in a two-month-old.
“I need your help. We are seeing the coronavirus surging around the country. We are in another escalation here in Kentucky,” Beshear said. “We have got to do what it takes to stop it, and that's all of us. No more being casual; time to be urgent. We are Team Kentucky. We can beat this. We will get through it and we will get through it together.”
Eight more deaths were also reported with two men, an 80-year-old and an 89-year-old from Jefferson County.
Officials said 1,520,236 tests have been given to Kentuckians.
The current positivity rate crept back up to 4.74%.
There have been 12,121 people who have recovered from the virus.
The state now stands at 72,001 cases since tracking began in March.
Friday, October 2
Kentucky confirmed 1,039 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s overall total to 70,727. Six more deaths were also confirmed
As of Friday, 1,507,046 tests have been administered, and the state’s test positivity rate is 4.30%
There are currently 578 Kentuckians hospitalized with the virus and 133 in the ICU.
“The situation is getting very dangerous in Kentucky. If you care about your economy, if you care about getting your kids into school, if you care about the lives of those around you, put on your mask,” said Gov. Beshear. “Socially distance; wash your hands; follow the rules. We’ve got to be Team Kentucky right now. We need your help and I know you’re going to come through.”
Thursday, October 1
4 p.m.
Kentucky confirmed 910 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state's total to 69,728 overall. Seventeen more deaths were also reported.
Of the new cases, 146 are children 18 and younger.
The state's test positivity rate is 4.11%.
4:30 p.m.
With Halloween coming up at the end of the month, Kentucky released guidance on how to celebrate and trick-or-treat safely. Some of the guidance includes: wearing a face mask, cleaning hands before handling candy, setting out candy at a distance for kids to pick up, using single packaged candy and wiping down candy packages once you get home.
State officials recommended against high-risk activities such as normal trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treat events, hayrides, haunted houses, trick-or-treating in large groups and Halloween parties for adults.
See the full guidance in the documents below:
Wednesday, September 30
Kentucky confirmed 1,004 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state's total to 68,840. Four more deaths were also reported.
As of today, 1,459,816 tests have been administered and the state's test positivity rate is 4.07%.
Tuesday, September 29
Kentucky reported 1,018 cases of COVID-19. That is the state's second highest single day increase since March, according to Governor Andy Beshear. The overall case total for Kentucky is now 67,856. Eight more deaths were also reported.
The state's test positivity rate is 4.24%.
There are currently 589 Kentuckians hospitalized with the virus: 129 people are in the ICU and 81 people are on ventilators.
Monday, September 28
Governor Beshear is reporting 456 new COVID-19 cases bringing the state's total 66,939 positive cases.
Eighty-three of the newly reported cases were from children ages 18 and younger, of which 20 were children ages 5 and under. The youngest was only 6 months old.
“Last week we had almost 5,000 cases in Kentucky – the most we have ever had. Now what we believe that we are seeing, I believe we’re seeing it nationally, is the start of a new escalation,” the Governor said. “As we come toward a fall season and winter, where more people are going to be inside and we know the virus spreads faster, we’ve got to do better than this. We can’t be casual right now.”
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear reported five new deaths Monday, raising the total to 1,162 Kentuckians lost to the virus.
The deaths reported Monday include a 56-year-old woman from Fayette County; a 91-year-old woman and two men, ages 93 and 97, from Jefferson County; and an 84-year-old woman from Johnson County.
“Let’s call and check on the families who have lost someone,” said Gov. Beshear. “I lost my friend Alice Sparks at the end of last week. She lived a wonderful life and lived life to its fullest, but she should still be with us.”
As of Monday, there have been at least 1,373,577 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate was 4.41%, and at least 11,787 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
‘The Fast 4 at 4’
- Gold Star Families Memorial Monument
Gov. Beshear spoke Monday about the dedication ceremony he attended Sunday to unveil a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument on the Capitol grounds.
The final Sunday in September is set aside as National Gold Star Family Day, a day to venerate the many brave U.S. military members who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.
“This year, I was honored to help dedicate the Gold Star Families Monument, which will stand here on the Capitol grounds to educate visitors and further honor the lives of these Kentucky heroes and the families who love them,” the Governor said.
The National Gold Star Registry lists more than 470,000 American military members who died while serving in a time of conflict since the start of World War II.
The registry lists nearly 10,000 Kentuckians among this proud Gold Star fellowship.
“These are Kentucky’s sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives. They answered the call. They served and fought for our freedoms,” the Governor said. “These Gold Stars are bestowed with an honor no one seeks for a debt that never can be repaid.”
Gov. Beshear said we should look to the lessons and sacrifices of previous generations as we fight the global coronavirus pandemic.
“Let us draw inspiration and strength from these lives lived with common purpose, sacrifice and love for our commonwealth,” he said. “That’s the essence of what I call Team Kentucky: All of us coming together to serve a better Kentucky, one that works for every one of us.” - Voting
Gov. Beshear has been encouraging all Kentuckians to make a plan to vote, either by mail, in person during early voting or in person on Election Day. On Monday, he showed that he was taking this advice himself, displaying his own mail-in ballot, which can be requested through the GoVoteKy.com website.
“We are now in the midst of this election. Absentee voting is underway. I have my ballot now,” said Gov. Beshear. “Make sure you follow the instructions carefully. Then mail it or drop it in a drop box. And remember, you can register to vote until Oct. 5. You can request an absentee ballot until Oct. 9. After that, early in-person voting begins Oct. 13. But there is no excuse, folks. Voting is a part of who we are as Americans. I want to see a record turnout here in Kentucky.”
The deadline to register online to vote in the 2020 General Election is 4 p.m. local time on Oct. 5. Kentucky residents can register by visiting the state’s Online Voter Registration webpage.
In addition, more than 170,000 Kentuckians have had their voting rights restored because of the executive order Gov. Beshear signed days after taking office. These Kentuckians, convicted of non-violent and non-sexual felonies, who have repaid their debts to society through completed sentences, can participate fully in our democracy. Visit CivilRightsRestoration.ky.gov to check your eligibility. - Biotech Company Expands
Gov. Beshear shared good economic news Monday that Summit Biosciences Inc., a Lexington-based pharmaceutical company focused on nasal spray medicines, is expanding its operation at the University of Kentucky Coldstream Research Campus with a more than $19 million investment expected to create up to 78 full-time jobs.
“We need companies like Summit Biosciences more than ever, and I could not be happier to see its tremendous growth in Lexington,” the Governor said. “This company has represented what it means to be part of Team Kentucky during this pandemic, donating personal protective equipment to the local community and working on an urgently needed treatment for coronavirus. Summit Biosciences is a company with a bright future in Kentucky.”
The project has grown significantly since it originally was announced in 2016 as a $7.9 million project that would create 21 jobs.
The expansion – which is nearing completion – brings the company’s footprint to 44,000 square feet with increased manufacturing, laboratory and warehouse space. The additional space will support clinical and commercial production of several new nasal spray medicines, including one for COVID-19.
In May, Atossa Therapeutics Inc., a Seattle-based pharmaceutical company, awarded Summit a contract to accelerate the development of a nasal spray medicine for preventing and/or mitigating a COVID-19 infection. The proposed product is being developed as an at-home, easy-to-administer preventative or treatment option for patients and is among a very limited number of medicines or vaccines that will rely on intranasal delivery.
To view the full news release, click here. - Mask Up Kentucky!
Gov. Beshear also stressed the continued importance of everyone wearing face coverings, calling it the single most important thing all of us can do to fight COVID-19.
“This is our greatest and most important tool for getting back to everything we want to do,” the Governor said. “Do the right thing: Mask up.”
He also encouraged Kentuckians to spread the word on social media using #MaskUpKY and #MaskUpKentucky hashtags. The Governor said starting next week, Kentuckians who use the hashtags will receive a #TeamKY mask if their post is featured as part of the Governor’s daily 4 p.m. news conference.