Nearly 3,500 COVID-19 cases in Kentucky, 191 deaths. Healthcare services to reopen Monday.

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At his daily coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing on Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced 161 new cases of the virus have been confirmed in Kentucky over the previous 24 hours.

Those cases increase the state’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases to 3,481.

The governor said six new deaths were reported, bringing the state’s death toll to 191 (5.5 percent). Beshear added that 86 (45 percent) of the state’s 191 deaths are connected to nursing homes.

Beshear said the new deaths occurred in Muhlenberg, Jefferson (2), Adair, Henderson, and Kenton counties. The new cases arose from 18 Kentucky counties, including nearby Butler, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Ohio counties.

The governor said 42,844 COVID-19 tests have been administered in Kentucky.

He said 1,115 (32 percent) people have been hospitalized, with 302 currently being treated in a hospital. Five-hundred-seventy victims (16.4 percent) have been treated in ICU, with 163 people currently in intensive care.

A total of 1,335 (38.4 percent) victims have recovered from the virus, according to Beshear.

Phase 1 review: Reopening healthcare services

Dr. Steven Stack, the commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Public Health, reviewed Phase 1 of the state’s plan to reopen healthcare services around Kentucky.

He said that beginning Monday, healthcare facilities will resume non-urgent/emergent healthcare services, diagnostic radiology and lab services in outpatient hospital services, healthcare clinics and medical offices, physical therapy settings and chiropractic offices, optometrists, and dental offices (w/enhanced aerosol protections).

In all phases, Dr. Stack says people should use telehealth rather than in-person services. He said visitor restrictions will remain in place and healthcare offices should also eliminate traditional waiting area and instead use non-traditional alternatives such as a parking lot lobby.

“You can’t open back up with normal procedures and do business as normal,” he said. “Changes have to be made.”

All healthcare providers and staff must wear surgical/procedural masks.

All patients and others in office must wear a surgical/procedural mask while in a hospital or surgical center, and wear surgical/procedural or cloth mask/face covering in other healthcare settings.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com