Governor Andy Beshear confirmed 3,649 new cases of coronavirus Thursday, the highest the commonwealth has seen in a single day. The top five highest days since the pandemic reached Kentucky were reported this week.
Thursday’s reported new cases brings the total number of cases in the state ever to 148,390. The state’s positivity rate is now at 9.18%. The state reported 1,500 Kentuckians in the hospital with COVID-19. Beshear also reported 358 people with COVID-19 receiving intensive care treatment and 199 people on a ventilator, up 23 from Wednesday.
There were also 30 new deaths Thursday, bringing the total number ever in the commonwealth to 1,742. In the span of three days, there have been 78 deaths in Kentucky.
“Next week, it’s gonna be worse. The week after that, it’s gonna be worse.” Beshear said.
Calloway County Health Department reported 37 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. The total number of confirmed cases ever in Calloway County is now at 1,455. Officials report 1,166 positive cases have recovered, 259 are isolated at home, 13 are hospitalized, and 17 deaths.
As of Nov.16, the positivity rate of testing done at Murray-Calloway County Hospital is 14.47%.
Kentucky now has 112 counties in the red zone, up 18 from 94 counties last week.
“The whole state is on fire with covid” Beshear said.
There are more than 10,000 students in Kentucky currently quarantine, Beshear reported.
“If you’re upset school is gonna be virtual, you can be upset with me, but it’s the virus,” he added.
Beshear also asked religious leaders across the state to immediately suspend all in-person gatherings at their houses of worship starting Friday, until Dec.13. He said he’s spoken with some religious leaders who have also had deaths within their congregation.
Drive-thru services are encouraged, but Beshear said potlucks and revivals should not take place.
Due to new mandatory restrictions for bars and restaurants Beshear announced on Wednesday, UPS is looking to hire more than 1,000 across Kentucky. To apply, go to UPS job.com and type the name of the city in which you are looking to work in the search box.
