Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday afternoon that 163 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been diagnosed in Kentucky.
Monday’s newly confirmed cases increases the state’s total to 5,245. There were also eight new deaths reported Monday, raising the death toll to 261 victims (5.0 fatality rate).
The deaths include six Jefferson County men, ages 69, 64, and 86, and three Jefferson County women, ages 86, 89 and 98. A 79-year-old woman from Hopkins County, and 66-year-old Hardin County woman also perished from the disease.
Beshear said 1,529 (29.2 percent) victims have been hospitalized with COVID-19, with 333 people currently being treated in a hospital. Six-hundred-fifty-nine (12.6 percent) patients have been treated in intensive care, with 174 victims currently in ICU.
At least 1,921 (36.6 percent) people have recovered from the virus. Beshear said 60,046 COVID-19 tests have been administered in Kentucky.
Expanded reopening of healthcare and businesses
At the briefing, Beshear offered new details on guidelines for businesses and healthcare providers looking to restart safely.
The governor provided updated information for employers relaunching under Kentucky’s Healthy at Work initiative and announced new partnerships to expand testing in northern Kentucky and provide masks for Kentucky businesses.
“Let’s remember: Even as we work at being Healthy at Work, we are still dealing with a very deadly virus out there,” Beshear said. “We have to be gradual and we have to be smart. We have to make the right decisions and we need everyone on board.”
Beshear launched the Healthy at Work initiative in late April to guide the safe and gradual reopening of the state’s economy. The initiative sets out public health benchmarks for reopening Kentucky’s economy.
What began with the phased reopening of certain healthcare services continues as other business sectors prepare to relaunch operations in Phase 1 of Healthy at Work.
Under the schedule outlined by Beshear, more businesses will be allowed to open May 11 with new minimum requirements, as well as industry specific requirements.
Among the businesses that will be allowed to operate:
- Manufacturing, distribution and supply chain businesses
- Construction
- Vehicle or vessel dealerships
- Office-based businesses (at 50 percent pre-pandemic capacity)
- Horse racing (no fans in attendance)
- Pet care, grooming and boarding
- Photography
“It’s important that you meet these guidelines, these requirements, because it allows us to be healthy at work,” said La Tasha Buckner, the Governor’s chief of staff and lead counsel. “That allows us the successful reopening and to make sure we’re making advancements and staying at the plateau level and hopefully declining.”
As long as progress in the fight against COVID-19 is not threatened, Beshear said, additional business sectors will be allowed to open May 20 and May 25.
Healthcare reopening Phase 2
Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said Health Care Phase 2 will begin Wednesday, May 6, when outpatient, ambulatory surgery and invasive procedures may resume.
All patients must have COVID-19 pre-procedure testing per professional association guidelines consistent with KDPH guidance. The 10 rules of reopening also apply, which includes universal masking and personal protective equipment (PPE), and closed common areas.
“Healthy at work applies to being healthy at the hospital,” Dr. Stack said. “In fact, if anything there are additional protections because of the unique characteristics of hospitals and surgical centers.”
PPE partnerships
Beshear announced a partnership with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky Distillers’ Association to obtain personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitizer for small businesses as they prepare for Healthy at Work.
Together, the partnership has purchased 200,000 3-ply masks that are available for Kentucky businesses. Masks can be purchased at kychamber.com/maskorderform of $1 each.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone wear a mask, but they don’t have to be disposable. People can also wear homemade cloth masks, but surgical masks and N-95 respirators should be reserved for healthcare workers, according to Beshear.
Kentucky’s distillers, meanwhile, have retooled to provide hand sanitizer. To date, Kentucky’s distillers have donated more than 150,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to our healthcare providers.
Businesses in need can visit kyhandsanitizer.com and put in a request to purchase sanitizer with the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
