At his daily coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing, Gov. Andy Beshear said new cases increased by 90 victims over the last 24 hours.
The state’s official number of confirmed COVID-19 cases now stands at 831. Beshear said 15,572 COVID-19 tests have been administered in Kentucky.
On Thursday, the official number of cases was 770, an increase of 61 from Thursday to Friday. But, as the governor noted, 32 labs are currently analyzing test results and reporting to dozens of local health departments who then report to the Kentucky Department of Public Health. That chain of reports, along with reporting deadlines, affect the numbers by sometimes resulting in duplicate positives tests and other reporting or counting mistakes.
Beshear said six deaths have been reported over the last 24 hours, bringing the state’s total COVID-19 fatalities to 37. The 17 deaths reported Thursday and Friday are the most over a 48 hour period since the pandemic reached Kentucky. The state’s fatality rate, based on the current numbers, stands at 4.45 percent.
Four of the newly reported deaths were in Jefferson County, with one each in Hopkins and Madison counties.
“Don’t let these deaths become a numbers game,” Beshear said about the mounting death toll. “Everybody that we’ve lost are real, special, important people, children of God.”
Jefferson County, with 26 new coronavirus cases, now has a state-leading 258 confirmed cases of the virus.
Friday’s new cases originated in Edmonson, Hardin, Bullitt, Daviess, Caldwell, Jefferson, Boyd, Mason, Boyle, Fayette, Kenton, Adair, Campbell, Franklin, Madison, Russell, Henderson, Scott, Allen, Anderson, Calloway, Johnson, Christian, Clark, Graves, Greenup, Jessamine, Carter, Montgomery, and Oldham counties.
According to the Barren River District Health Department, Edmonson County now has five confirmed cases of the virus, the most of any county bordering Grayson County with the exception of Hardin County (10 cases), which, with about 110,000 residents, has nearly 10 times the population of Edmonson County (approx. 12,000)
Beshear said six nursing homes in Kentucky have at least one resident who has tested positive for the virus, while three additional nursing homes have staff that have tested positive.
On an encouraging note, the governor said at least 228 victims “have fully recovered” from the virus (about 27 percent of those diagnosed positive).
With the outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County, blamed on a non-compliant Dawson Springs church holding a revival service in mid-March, the governor was asked if he has heard reports of churches continuing to hold in-person services.
“Very few,” according to Beshear. “They continue to diminish as the weeks go by.”
He noted that a Frankfort church that had been holding in-person services has now stopped, while adding that two Frankfort gyms were “busted” after allowing patrons to enter through the back door.
The governor said he recommended a sheriff’s deputy or Kentucky State Trooper be positioned in the parking lot of any non-compliant church, telling people as they arrive that they are helping spread the virus, and “is it worth it to lose five percent or 10 percent” of the church membership.
The coronavirus death in Hopkins County reported by Beshear on Friday is the third fatal case of COVID-19 blamed on the Dawson Springs church revival service.
“This is not a test of faith,” Beshear admonished current church attendees, “Use the wisdom God gave you.”
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
