On advice of White House Coronavirus Task Force head, Beshear closes bars, further limits restaurant capacity

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Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday announced several new measures to stem the rising number of cases coronavirus (COVID-19) in the commonwealth.

“At a time when Kentucky is dealing with a surge in the coronavirus, knowing where other states have gone and knowing what it takes to stop it from happening here, let’s remember that we’re going to get through this, and we’re going to get through this together, but it’s going to require us to do what’s necessary,” the governor said. “Wherever you live in Kentucky, the virus is spreading. Our state government and the federal administration have significant agreement on what we need to do right now to make sure we don’t turn into Florida, Texas, Arizona, so many other states going through what could be absolutely devastating for them.”

Beshear announced the following steps intended to lower the COVID-19 transmission rate:

  • Bars will be closed for two weeks, effective Tuesday, July 28.
  • Restaurants will be limited to 25 percent of pre-pandemic capacity indoors; outdoor accommodations remain limited only by the ability to provide proper social distancing.
  • Public and private schools are being asked to avoid offering in-person instruction until the third week of August.

To view the order from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services covering the new restrictions, which goes into effect at midnight tonight, click here.

Beshear said his new recommendation for schools is the only path toward getting back to in-person instruction.

“By waiting until the third week of August, we believe it gives us a chance to get this thing under better control, to get more people wearing that facial covering and to get us in a place where we can handle this in a much better way,” Beshear said. “My concern is if schools start before this, we’ll see cases in schools. And if we see a lot of early cases in schools, it will be harder to get all of our schools open for in-person classes in some way that works for those families.”

The governor and the Kentucky Department for Public Health will monitor case numbers over the next two weeks with the goal of reopening bars and restoring restaurant capacity after that time, officials said.

“Let me say, there are a lot of really responsible bar owners out there, and I hate requiring this for them,” Beshear noted. “They are paying for the actions of others, and it’s not fair, but this virus isn’t fair either. On restaurants, again, they can do unlimited outdoor seating as long as they can sufficiently spread guests out under social distancing guidelines, and we are going to work with our cities and localities to do what we need to do administratively to allow that outside seating to expand. This is going to hurt a lot of restaurants. But the White House modeling shows that this is absolutely necessary to control the spread at this time when we either become the next Florida, or we get it under control and save the lives of our people and protect our economy.”

Dr. Steven Stack, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, highlighted the fact that the state’s fate is everyone’s hands when it comes to fighting COVID-19.

“This is not outside of our control; our actions can have a positive impact,” Stack implored. “One point I want to emphasize is that it’s not politics if you have President Trump and Gov. Beshear making the same recommendations. It’s not politics. This is science. If we work together through this, we can succeed. Back when we were Healthy at Home, we crushed the curve. … But when we started lifting restrictions, our mobility went right back to normal. So now, if you want to keep Kentucky open and keep your loved ones safe, wear a mask.”

Beshear noted that he was joined Sunday in Frankfort by Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force. Dr. Birx advised that the growth in Kentucky’s COVID-19 cases and, especially, the commonwealth’s rising test positivity rate, is cause not just for concern, but for immediate action. Dr. Birx specifically recommended that Kentucky’s bars close and indoor dining capacity be limited.

“We are in an escalation of cases, where our positivity rate also continues to increase,” Beshear said. “This virus is now escalating and spreading so much statewide that statewide action is necessary. That’s the opinion of the Trump administration, and that’s the position of this state government. It’s every expert on the federal level and at our state level.”

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com