This story has been updated.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed 147 new coronavirus cases at his daily update Tuesday, bringing the commonwealth’s total number of cases to 1,149.
The new cases come from Jefferson, Fayette, Muhlenberg, Calloway, Daviess, Hopkins, Boyd, Boyle, Bullitt, Campbell, Lyon, Monroe, Adair, Allen, Breckenridge, Caldwell, Christian, Franklin, Graves, Green, Harrison, Kenton, Laurel, Letcher, Marshall, McReary, Montgomery, Nelson, Ohio, Pulaksi, Russell, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer and Warren counties.
Beshear also announced seven deaths, for a total of 65 in the state. The Calloway County Health Department confirmed Tuesday the first coronavirus-related death in the county. Additional cases from Calloway County announced Tuesday bring the county's total to nine.
About 68% of the state’s positive tests have race data associated with them: 79.25% of positive COVID-19 patients are Caucasian, 12% are African American, 2.6% are Asian American and 2% are multiracial.
Christian County has been a hotspot for the virus and many of those cases can be attributed to Western State Hospital, an inpatient mental health facility in Hopkinsville. The hospital has 13 positive cases, including nine patients and four staff members. Aside from healthcare facilities, prisons are another congregate facility with high breakout potential for the virus. The Green River Correctional Complex in Muhlenberg County is seeing 14 cases. Nine inmates and five staff members at the Central City institution have tested positive so far.
Although the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in Kentucky, Beshear indicated social distancing guidelines and business closures are working to “flatten the curve.”
Testing Availability
Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack provided an update on the state’s increased access to COVID-19 testing kits. Stack announced a partnership with 32 Kentucky hospitals to expand access to testing, especially in the rural parts of the commonwealth. He noted the participating hospitals are mostly outside the state’s “golden triangle,” which refers to Louisville, Lexington, and the northern Kentucky suburbs near Cincinnati.
State leaders are introducing a tier system for determining access to testing. Both tiers in the system require potential testees to exhibit multiple COVID-19 symptoms including fever greater than 100.4 degrees fahrenheit, dry cough and/or difficulty breathing. The second tier requires the aforementioned symptoms plus a pre-existing medical condition, which can include asthma, COPD, Diabetes, liver disease, renal failure, or compromised immunity. The top tier includes the symptoms as well as status as a healthcare worker or first responder, those aged 60 and above, or those living in a congregate facility including prisons or nursing homes. The tier system will be deployed to streamline testing availability at all sites administered or governed by the Kentucky Department of Public Health.
Unemployment Benefits
Deputy Workforce Development Secretary Josh Benton said the recent boom in unemployment claims has placed a strain on the state employees working to process those applications. He said the state is working rapidly to adjust operating plans for the massive influx of applications. The government’s hotline for unemployment claims typically has around 12 operators answering calls from claimants. Benton said the unprecedented rise in unemployment filings has necessitated the addition of more than 1,000 new phone operators on the hotline.
“Our goal at the end of this week is to be around 1,000 to 1,200 people on the call center line,” Benton said.
Benton also announced a new date is coming for individuals to receive a 13 week extension of unemployment benefits. Notification on the date change should come within the week, he said. The extension could potentially benefit those who were near the end of their benefits, specifically coal miners in eastern Kentucky.
Church Celebrations
As multiple faiths celebrate holidays this week, Beshear is cautioning the commonwealth’s houses of worship against congregating in celebration.
“We ought to be committed to protecting one another, to loving our neighbor as our self, and to not want to put any of our neighbors anywhere in harm's way,” Beshear said.
Beshear said this is a personal issue for him; his son, Will, was set to be baptized Sunday. Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear are deacons at Louisville’s Beargrass Christian Church.
Beshear said potential action could be taken this week in response to churches defying state guidance prohibiting public gatherings. He said dozens of churches have chosen to violate the guidance and hold church services.
“I got over any ramification of doing what it takes to protect lives a long time ago in this,” Beshear said regarding potential action to stop the gatherings.
Steps The State Has Taken To Address COVID-19
· The state is increasing unemployment hotline operators from twelve to over one thousand.
· The Department of Public Health is introducing a tiered system to streamline COVID-19 testing.
· Beshear issued an executive order commuting the sentences for 186 C and D felons.
· Beshear has issued a 14-day quarantine for returning Kentucky residents who have left the state for reasons other than: caring for a loved one, going to the closest grocery store for supplies, parental visitation, going to work
· State officials are moving ahead with plans to convert the Louisville Fairgrounds into a field hospital with at least 2,000 beds. Beshear said the state is working in conjunction with the National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers.
· State officials banned overnight stays in state parks. Beshear said this includes campgrounds and lodges.
· Beshear extended the policy of no in-person instruction in schools through at least Friday, May 1.
· Beshear announced an executive order expanding travel restrictions to where out-of-state people travelling into Kentucky need to quarantine for fourteen days “wherever they’re coming.” People who are just stopping for gas in the state are not included in the order.
· Beshear issued an executive order allowing critical workforce sectors to rehire previously retired workers to fill key roles.
· Beshear issued an executive order easing restrictions on nurses who live out of state and making it quicker to obtain a license.
· Beshear announced a new website portal to connect businesses interested in donating services or supplies with Kentuckians and Kentucky medical facilities in need.
· ?Beshear asked mayors and county judge-executives to monitor people gathering in public places such as parks and stop them if people are not practicing social distancing and risking the spread of COVID-19.
· Unemployment eligibility has been expanded to include individuals typically not covered by unemployment insurance. This includes self-employed, independent contractors, freelance workers, substitute teachers and childcare workers employed by religious affiliated organizations and nonprofits.
· ?State officials have suspended evictions for the duration of the COVID-19 Emergency.
· Beshear established a Team Kentucky fundto help provide financial assistance to Kentuckians whose employment has been affected by this virus. People can donate to the fund that will be overseen by the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet. Beshear said the fund will work like most popular fundraising platforms where people can “click a couple buttons and give instantly.” He said donations are tax-deductible.
· State officials created a COVID-19 reporting hotline for people to report situations and groups or organizations they believe are dangerous. Beshear said this could be groups not engaging in social distancing or businesses not abiding by CDC guidelines. The hotline is 1-833-KYSAFERor 1-833-597-2337. The hotline will be staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. by labor cabinet employees. People can also leave messages after hours. He said the hotline received roughly 2,000 last night.
· Beshear said the state is taking “security measures” around hospitals to ensure safety. He said people will see additional law enforcement and National Guard around hospitals.
· Beshear encouraged all radio and TV stations to do public service announcements. He said Kentucky needs more encouragement about social distancing and recommended stations pull information from the kycovid19.ky.gov website.
· The state is going to be conducting a survey of outpatient surgical centers for their supplies and staff. Beshear said it's something the state is doing so it can “marshal every single resource at a time of need.”
· The state is closing non-essential retail businesses to in-person traffic. These include entertainment, sporting goods, clothing, shoes, jewelry, bookstores, florists, furniture and auto dealers. Beshear said these retail businesses can still do curbside and pickup and urged them to be “innovative.” He said stores unaffected by this order are grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, drug stores, liquor stores, hardware stores, agriculture supply and equipment stores and auto repairs and parts stores. Beshear said these stores still need to follow CDC guidelines and “spread people out.” He said auto dealers will still be able to provide repairs and parts and can only do sales if the interaction is complete online or over the phone.
· The state, starting Monday, is mandating that medical facilities cease elective procedures. He said the vast majority of providers have responded to the state’s recommendation voluntarily.
· Kentucky has issued a state of emergency that Beshear said will last until COVID-19 is “taken care of.” He said the state’s emergency management operations center is up, as well as the state health operations center.
· The state established the COVID-19 hotline and a website providing updates on the virus for Kentuckians. People who are sick but would have not sought care should contact their healthcare provider to prevent flooding of health care facilities. People who have questions about the virus call the COVID-19 Hotline at (800) 722-5725.
· A price gouging order is in effect. Kentuckians who have any information regarding possible price gouging should dial (888) 432-9257 for the Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection hotline.
· Officials adjusted state government sick leave policy to ensure sick employees stay at home. Beshear said businesses should do the same. He encouraged all businesses to allow employees to work from home if at all possible.
· The state published CDC guidelines with warnings for sick individuals. Beshear said people over the age of 60 or people with heart, lung or kidney disease; compromised immune systems; or diabetes should be extremely careful and avoid places with crowds. He said Kentuckians should not fly if they don’t have to and that no one should get on a cruise ship.CDC guidelines say everyone should be engaged in social distancing.
· Beshear issued an executive order to waive copays, deductibles, cost-sharing and diagnostic testing fees for private insurance and state employees. He said the state has issued executive orders and worked in Medicaid to make sure COVID-19 testing and treatment is free.
· Beshear signed an executive order to allow pharmacists to refill prescriptions for up to 30 days.
· The state closed all state prisons to visitors.
· Beshear said the state closed restaurants and bars to all in-person traffic, except for drive-thru, delivery and, in some instances, take-out.
· Beshear said the state has limited visitation in “just about every type of facility that works with or for our seniors.”
· The state has recommended schools cease in-class activities, including in-person classes. Beshear said Friday this has been extended to April 21 and, as of now, all school districts have complied.
· Beshear said the state is making sure first responders and health care workers are covered through Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance. The insurance provides wage replacement benefits for first responders and medical personnel who have been quarantined for COVID-19.
· Child care centers are closed with the exception of those helping healthcare workers and first responders.
· The state postponed primary elections, moving voting to June 23.
· The state issued an executive order to close all public-facing businesses that encourage public congregation.
· Beshear said the state has waived the waiting period for unemployment insurance and continues to work to reduce the barriers to unemployment. Beshear said they are working on unemployment for independent contractors and small business owners.
· The federal government’s Small Business Administration has granted Kentucky application to allow small businesses to get disaster loans. Beshear said SBA’s website is fixed and small businesses can now apply online for the disaster loans they need. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans applications can be completed and filed online at www.sba.gov/disaster.
· All Kentuckians on the Grand Princess cruise ship were brought back home.
· The state provided a three-month extension on driver’s licenses.
· Beshear said the state is extending Medicaid, SNAP and other benefits: “If it’s running out and you would have to reapply in the next couple of months, you don’t have to.” He said the state is re-upping people on those benefits for a three-month period.
· The state has suspended all charitable gaming licenses.
· The state has issued a formal letter banning all mass gatherings.
· The state is delaying the tax filing deadline by three months from April 15 to July 15.
· Beshear said the state has issued guidance for good mental health.
Sydni Anderson and Hannah Bullard contributed to this report.
Update 7:38 PM: The Calloway County Health Department announced a ninth case of COVID-19 in the county.
