At his daily briefing Monday afternoon, Gov. Andy Beshear announced he has signed an executive order directing Kentuckians to not travel outside the boundaries of the commonwealth.
Beshear’s Chief of Staff LaTasha Buckner said citizens may continue to travel out of state for work, health care, groceries, taking care of a loved one, and court-ordered travel. The order requires those traveling out of state for any other reason to self-quarantine for 14 days after returning to Kentucky.
“The only way that we’re going to get people doing the right thing is because they agree to,” Beshear said about enforcing the executive order, while Buckner added, “The weather is turning really nice, we don’t want you to go (out of state) for pedicures.”
Beshear said confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kentucky now stands at 480, an increase of 41 since Sunday afternoon. That number, though, does not include two cases of coronavirus diagnosed in Edmonson County, and one each in Simpson County and Barren County. Those cases were reported by the Barren River District Health Department but have not yet been recorded by the state.
The governor said there has been two more COVID-19-related deaths in Kentucky, as an 88-year-old woman in Kenton County and 90-year-old woman in Simpson County succumbed to the virus. Both had underlying health issues.
The newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases originated in Jefferson, Fayette, Boone, Warren, Bullitt, Marion, Campbell, Marshall, Clark, Christian, Kenton, Warren, and Campbell counties. Jefferson County reports 17 new cases of the virus, Beshear said, bringing Kentucky most populous county’s total to 133. Fayette County had eight new cases confirmed, Beshear said, increasing the state’s second most populous county’s COVID-19 count to 90.
Beshear noted that two of the new cases are linked to a nursing home in Campbell County, as a resident and staff member are being treated for the virus. He also offered an update on a one-year-old in Fayette County child who was recently diagnosed with COVID-19, saying, “The child is back at home and doing really well.”
The governor believes between 15,000 and 21,000 people have been tested for the virus in Kentucky. He also said he is gathering additional data before deciding on whether to extend school closures.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
