Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 during this evening’s daily update and urged Kentuckians to sign up for all public assistance services for which they are eligible.
Of the five new cases, Beshear said one is an 8-month old in Jefferson County.
“I want to tell you that kiddo is in good condition, is being treated at home, and right now, everything is alright,” Beshear said. “This is very rare and for every parent out there, I'm one of you. Please listen to me. It is very rare.”
Beshear shared a graph showing a“tiny” number of coronavirus patients under the age of 19 have required hospitalization, none have needed ICU (intensive care unit) admissions, and there have been no fatalities in that age group.
“Look at all of the numbers, this virus doesn't appear to impact kids in the same way that the flu or anything else does. So this is important to have facts in context,” Beshear said.
The Department of Community Based Services will extend certification periods for recipients of all public assistance programs for three months. These include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid and Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program. According to Beshear this extension will be automatically implemented, meaning families and individuals do not have to come in person to apply for the extension.
Beshear said those who have lost benefits because they are now unemployed may immediately apply for Medicaid.
“I want everybody to be able to get the health care that they need,” he added.
Eric Freelander is the Secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. He also spoke at the March 18 press conference.
Freelander suggested people interested in signing up for Medicaid go to healthbenefitexchange.ky.gov or call 855-459-6328. For other benefits visit benefind.ky.gov or call 855-306-8959. Freelander said local Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services offices are closed, but there are drop boxes for documents needed to process eligibility outside of the offices.
“If you haven't been able to talk to folks on the phone, be patient, a lot of people are going to be calling,” Freelander said. “These folks are here for you. Go to these websites and get signed up. We will get you the health care you need. We'll get you the tests that you need when they become available.”
Beshear announced another round of mandated closures: suspending all charitable gaming licenses, meaning no bingo. Beshear said bingo halls cater to the elderly, a vulnerable population.
“I've done a number of things as an elected politician you wouldn't typically do. No bingo is one of them,” Beshear said.
Depository institutions, including commercial banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are financially strong, according to Beshear. He’s advising bank customers to limit their contact with tellers and cash.
“Paper money allows for a bigger spread of germs than using your credit card and relying on the institutions,” Beshear said. “I'm not going to go to our bank to remove dollars, you don't need to either.
Banks have been asked by the governor to adjust hours of operation, and reduce lobby access. Banks will be accepting loan applications online or by phone and encouraging customers to perform transactions electronically.
Beshear said he received confirmation from The Kroger Company, the food chain is secure.
“Kroger says that there's going to be enough and there is going to be enough,” he said. “There are going to be some individual limits on what can be purchased of essential items. We need to buy for a week, don't buy for a month.”
Beshear said “Team Kentucky” can defeat the coronavirus by being “good people.”
“We make major alterations and disruptions in our lives. But we do it because we care about each other,” he added.
The governor is calling COVID-19 a “test of who we are as Kentuckians”.
“Now it is the most unique, different test we have ever faced in that it requires us to use our compassion to stay apart from each other.”
