Gov. Andy Beshear announced 208 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kentucky at his daily briefing on Thursday.
The new cases increase the states’ total to 6,128. Eleven new deaths were also reported by Beshear, raising the commonwealth’s death toll to 294 (4.8 percent fatality rate) victims.
As previously reported by K105.com, Edmonson County reported five deaths on Thursday, all residents of Genesis Health (aka Edmonson Center) nursing home. The six additional deaths were reported out of Butler County (2), Warren County (1), Hardin County (1), Jefferson County (1), and Grayson County (1).
The victims who died range in age from 66- to 97-years-old.
“Each one is more than an age, a gender, a county, even though that is the information we read every day,” Beshear said. “These are 11 Kentuckians we have lost, 11 families that are grieving. They are going to have to go through this at a time when they can’t grieve a normal way.”
As of Thursday afternoon, 356 victims were being treated in a hospital, with 1,684 (27.4 percent) people ever hospitalized. Currently, 199 patients are in ICU, with 714 (11.7 percent) victims ever treated in intensive care.
The number of patients recovered from the virus is 2,177 (35.5 percent).
The governor said 81,391 tests have been administered in Kentucky.
Healthy at Work Phase 2
Beshear announced the second phase of reopening the commonwealth’s economy but urged patience and caution until the fight against COVID-19 is over.
All businesses should follow the 10 rules of staying healthy at work as well as industry-specific guidance, which will be issued as soon as possible, the governor said.
The new tentative dates for reopening are:
- May 22 – Restaurants, with limited 33 percent capacity and outdoor seating
- June 1 – Movie theaters, fitness centers
- June 11 – Campgrounds, public and private
- June 15 – Child care (with reduced capacity) and potentially low-touch and outdoor youth sports
“That is when we are opening our restaurants on a limited inside capacity plus unlimited outdoor seating if they can get the spacing that is needed,” Beshear said. “This allows restaurants to be open for Memorial Day weekend, but please be careful.”
The governor added that Phase 3 is coming July 1 with bars (with limitations) and gatherings up to 50 people allowed.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
