At his Wednesday coronavirus (COVID-19) briefing, Gov. Andy Beshear announced over 250 new cases of the virus have been confirmed in Kentucky over the previous 24 hours.
The governor reported 265 new cases of the virus, increasing the commonwealth’s total to 10,410 COVID-19 cases. On Tuesday, Beshear announced 155 new cases and three new deaths.
“I don’t think this 265 is cause for alarm, though it is at least a reminder … that this virus is still out there and spreading,” the governor said.
Beshear reported eight new deaths Wednesday, raising the total to 450 Kentuckians lost to the virus.
The deaths reported Wednesday include an 84-year-old woman from Gallatin County; three women, ages 91, 92 and 93, from Jefferson County; and a 48-year-old man from Shelby County.
Additionally, two women from Edmonson County, ages 91 and 99, perished from the disease. And one of the youngest victims in the nation, a nine-month-old baby from Hopkins County, also died from the virus.
“Today we’ve got to announce that we have on our list of deaths a nine-month-old child from Hopkins County,” Beshear said. “We grieve for everybody we have lost from COVID-19. This is a reminder of how deadly this virus can be, how precious all of our lives are.
“As a father of two kids, one of which I was scared at birth might not make it, I want this family to know – and it’s a family I have never met, even in my dad’s hometown county – that we, regardless of what will ultimately be listed as the cause of death, we are grieving for you, we care about you, and I cannot imagine how you are feeling right now.”
Dr. Steven Stack, Department for Public Health Commissioner, said the child’s cause of death was initially ruled Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He said a later, positive COVID-19, test necessitated the death be blamed on the virus.
Dr. Stack said the death of such a young person to coronavirus was rare yet devastating.
“I would encourage parents to not worry overly, but that you should be concerned because for the individual, for the families, they suffer the illness or loss of child,” he said. “For them it is real. It doesn’t make a difference if it is rare. For them it was 100 percent occurrence. They lost their loved young one. So, it’s important we are all careful with this disease.”
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
