Governor Andy Beshear confirmed 87 cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky and the state’s third virus-related death in today’s update. The death was a 67-year-old Anderson County resident who had “a number of other factors that contributed.”
“We need to think about his family and those in his community need to provide all the support to him. And tonight, and every night, that I have to report a fatality we’re going to light the Kentucky governor’s mansion up green,” Beshear said.
He said the color represents compassion, empathy and renewal.
“So while I know it seems small, I hope that lighting up that building in that way lets people know that we are thinking about them, that we care about them, that we love every single Kentuckian around us and we will do everything we can to not have to make these types of announcements.”
The new COVID-19 cases in the state include a 55-year-old male from Warren County, as well as cases from Fayette, Spencer, Madison, Menifee, Jefferson, Harrison, and Kenton counties. An out-of-state visitor in Breathitt County also tested positive. A 73-year-old male from Warren County is waiting to be confirmed.
Beshear said Green River Health Department has reported a 59-year-old male, a 48-year-old female, a 23-year-old female, 48-year-old male and a 61-year-old male. The department serves Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union and Webster Counties.
Solaris Diagnostics, a molecular genetics lab based in Nicholasville, has also reported a 40-year-old male and a 58-year-old female.
Beshear said an eight-month-old and a six-year-old diagnosed with the virus are in good condition. The six-year-old has been discharged from the hospital. The eight-month-old did not need to go to the hospital.
Beshear said the state expects new, positive cases every day. He said children can spread the disease and parents should limit their contact with grandparents.
“There is still in a pandemic an increase in cases as the virus spreads. We should be ready to see more cases. We should know that they are coming,” he said.
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack called the pandemic a “once in multigenerational moment in time” and said the state, country and world need to come together.
Stack said the disease is very contagious and reminded people to stick to CDC guidelines.
“You put a whole bunch of people together and you have one infected person then a whole lot of them get infected and it’s like buckshot. They all scatter and they spread it everywhere they go,” Stack said. “The other thing is you have one person going house to house. Some people have said, ‘What if I go house to house and do services?’ Think about a honeybee. A honeybee goes flower to flower and spreads the pollen. Here the pollen is COVID-19.”
Beshear later referenced Stack’s analogy and said people should not be making private house calls.
“This is not a drill. This is serious. And if we do it together, we’re going to overcome it. But if individuals keep trying to find ways around the things we’re doing, those individuals are going to hurt a lot of people,” Stack said.
Small Business Disaster Loan Funds
Beshear said the federal government’s Small Business Association has approved disaster loan funds for small businesses in Kentucky. He said he will have a slide during tomorrow’s COVID-19 update to show small businesses what they can do. He said people can now apply for the loans at sba.gov or call 1-800-659-2955.
“If you are a Kentucky business that has been affected and one of these disaster loans could help you out, then please apply,” Beshear said. “We want as many of you as possible to get out there and do it.”
#HealthyAtHome
Beshear issued a new challenge to Kentuckians today to cut social interactions and make sure they maintain physical distances.
“That doesn’t mean it has to be emotionally and we have so many ways to talk to each other,” he said. “The healthiest place we can be right now is in our homes.”
Beshear said when people go to the grocery store or gas station they have to engage in social distancing of at least six-feet.
“We can’t use those moments that we go to a place where there might be a crowd to get the things that we need to ultimately undermine the guidelines that are there,” Beshear said.
Steps Taken In Response To COVID-19
Beshear said officials have declared a state of emergency in Kentucky. He said this will last until “we have fully defeated this virus.”
Beshear said Kentucky has activated its emergency management operations center. He said this is the group with which the state is planning to provide a COVID-19 test to everyone who wants one. He said the state is working to open such testing centers in less than 48-hours after receiving proper supplies. Beshear said people should remember that those currently getting tested are the ones who need it the most.
“If you are well but nervous, right now is not the time to get one of these tests,” he said.
Beshear said those who are sick should call the COVID-19 hotline Beshear said (800) 722-5725 or their medical doctor to prevent flooding of health care facilities. People can find information and guidance at kycovid19.ky.gov.
Beshear said that while increased testing is good with more labs coming online, it makes it more difficult to track negative cases. He said he believes the number of test administered in the state exceeds 1,000.
“I’d be surprised if it’s not over 1,500 or greater at this point,” he said.
Beshear said a price gouging order is in effect. He said Kentuckians who see price gouging occuring should dial 888-432-9257. Beshear said the state is going to extend the order.
Beshear addressed businesses about sick leave and said they need to make sure people who are sick can stay home.
“For a group the other day that seemed to brag about having six weeks of unpaid leave, that doesn’t help anybody. That’s saying they won’t lose their jobs so they can’t get unemployment. But they can’t get paid if they’re sick,” Beshear said. “Please don’t be that organization that acts like you’re doing something great when your people need so much more from you.”
Beshear said the state has issued executive orders for COVID-19 testing and treatment to be free for all Kentuckians. He also said the state has made sure pharmacies can refill prescriptions.
“Call your pharmacy. Don’t go in to see your doctor right now if it’s a routine prescription. We’ll re-up this when the first 30 days run out,” he said.
The state has also asked schools to extend closures of in-person classes and activities until April 21. Beshear said the state will evaluate as they go whether they have to extend closures past that date.
Beshear said all community gatherings should be canceled or postponed, including in-person church worship. He said all meetings should be done remotely.
Restaurants and bars are closed for in-person service, as well as front-facing businesses with some exceptions. Child care centers are closed this week except for those caring for the children of first responders and health care workers. Senior centers are closed for visitors or closed completely if seniors do not live there.
Beshear said the state has pushed back elections to June 23 this year.
He also said the state is working on creating a hotline for people to report organizations that are not complying to CDC guidelines. He said he hopes to have news on that front by Monday.
Unemployment Insurance Applications
Beshear reminded people who started unemployment applications this week to finish them by 11:59 p.m. tonight.
“That will make sure you don’t have to go back. That will make sure you don’t have to fill in anything a second time,” he said.
Beshear said people filling out applications next week should follow the pictured schedule. He said the state is going to do everything it can to try to make unemployment insurance available to independent contractors.
Politics
Beshear said he has been on a call with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence a “little more than once a week.” A reporter asked Beshear how he would judge President Trump’s response to the crisis. Beshear said he’s “pretty done” with the politics that “goes back and forth on cable news.”
“I’m here to protect Kentucky. I’m just not interested in the democratic or republican back-and-forth on judging people for this or for that,” Beshear said. “What I want is the federal government...to just work hard every day to provide what we need here, to look out for our people, to make sure that independent contractors can qualify for unemployment insurance, to just know we are in a different time and what we have to do is everything for our people.”
Reaching Out To Amish And Mennonite Communities
Beshear said he would take any suggestions in reaching out to Amish and Mennonite communities from local health departments and others that traditionally work with those communities. He asked those who have contact with the Amish and Mennonites to think of ways to communicate the information provided at the COVID-19 press conferences to those communities in safe, socially-distanced ways.
LIHEAP Funding
Beshear said the state is going to work with utilities but wants to make sure that nobody in Kentucky is cut off.
“And whether that is increasing LIHEAP funding or the rest, now is not the time to cut off people’s power or their water or evict them from their home. We are in a different place than we’ve ever been and we can’t kick people out on the street or make it harder to stay in their homes when we’re asking them to be healthy at home,” Beshear said.
He said now should not be a time for “major profit” for businesses that are still operating.
“Now should be a time of patriotism where you realize how necessary you are and you adjust your prices to help out folks that need it and/or use that extra money to ramp up your workforce to make sure people are there,” he said.
LIHEAP funding ends March 31.
Mail-in Voting
Beshear said moving back voting to June 23 has bought the state time to see where the virus is going. He said all options should be on the table and that Secretary of State Michael Adams is willing to consider mail-in ballots. Beshear said he is not going to put poll workers “in a dangerous place” and will not create crowds in lines if it is not safe to do so in the upcoming election.
