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Kentucky testing rate near the worst in the nation

Kentucky has tested less than 1% of the population for COVID-19. Only four other states have worse testing rates.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As communities consider reopening, experts say we won't find our "new normal" without wide-spread testing. But as a country, the US is far from wide-spread testing, with the most advanced state having tested less than 4% of its population. Kentucky and Indiana have testing rates even lower than that.

Right now, the national average testing rate is 1.3% of the population. Indiana is testing at a rate below the national average, but not at the bottom of the list, having tested just above 1% of the population.

Kentucky, however, is near the bottom, testing only .88% of its population. Only four states have testing rates worse than Kentucky: Texas, Arizona, Virginia and Kansas. See Map here.

Until now, only a select group of people in Kentucky have had access to testing for COVID-19, including those showing symptoms, in a high risk group, or working on the front lines. But starting next week, the general public will be allowed to get tested, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Wednesday.

Credit: WHAS11 News FOCUS Team

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"If we're going to truly be healthy at work and come out of this in a positive way we're going to need you to take advantage of that testing capacity,” Beshear said.

He said the state plans to deploy 20,000 tests a week, which would be a massive increase from the approximately 36,000 tests that have been administered since the outbreak began.

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