Gov. Andy Beshear, at his daily coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing on Tuesday, responded to K105.com’s story on several state senators and representatives planning to hold demonstrations around western Kentucky designed to encourage the governor to reopen Kentucky immediately.
The politicians, from west of I-65, feel the financial needs and burdens placed on citizens, particularly in rural areas, has reached a crisis point. So much so that they believe reopening the state immediately is the most prudent way to alleviate the financial struggles endured by individuals and businesses alike.
“Dangerous,” is how Beshear described the politicians desire to immediately reopen. “We believe we have a gradual, Healthy at Work program where we can try to protect people at the time of a pandemic.”
The governor, noting a demonstration on Saturday in Frankfort held by Kentuckians for reopening the state’s economy, advised anyone organizing or participating in such demonstrations to be mindful of social distancing measures and not risk the health of those around them.
“We just saw a demonstration where they (speakers at the rally) said, ‘Take off your mask, don’t get the vaccine and social distancing is voluntary,’ Beshear stated. “Please, if someone is planning a demonstration don’t do it that way, do it safely, do it in a way that you can get your point across. And it’s your right to get your point across but make sure you don’t put other people at risk during demonstrations. Part of leadership is knowing even when you want to get people on your side, you got to do it in a way that doesn’t harm them.”
Beshear has introduced a plan for a gradual reopening of the state, beginning on May 11. Incremental reopening steps will follow on May 20, May 25, and early June.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House and nation’s top infectious disease expert, weighed in late last month on protestors around the nation demanding economies be reopened.
“This is something that is hurting from the standpoint of economics, from the standpoint of things that have nothing to do with the virus,” Fauci said. “Unless we get the virus under control, the real recovery economically is not gonna happen. So, what you do if you jump the gun and go into a situation where you have a big spike, you’re gonna set yourself back. So as painful as it is to go by the careful guidelines of gradually phasing into a reopening, it’s going to backfire. That’s the problem.”
Fauci then warned, “Unless we get the virus under control, the real recovery economically is not going to happen.”
Currently, there more than 1.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with 70,847 deaths since early February.
Beshear announced on Tuesday that 625 new cases of the virus have been diagnosed in the state, an “artificially high” number the governor said, as 309 COVID-19 cases were confirmed at Central City’s Green River Correctional Complex. Tuesday marks the most cases announced in a single day in Kentucky, surpassing the 322 confirmed cases announced on April 24.
Kentucky now has 5,822 cases of the virus, and with 13 newly reported deaths on Tuesday, the commonwealth has recorded 275 COVID-19 fatalities.
Nearly 1,200 of the state’s confirmed cases are residents (828) or staff members (331) of long-term care facilities. Over 70 percent of Kentucky’s COVID-19-related deaths have been victims over the age of 70.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
