Governor Andy Beshear has ordered all restaurants and bars to cease in-person traffic for an undermined period of time, is asking child care facilities to close by the end of the week, and the May primary election has been postponed until June 23.
All of the decisions were made in an effort to increase social distancing and to reduce the number of crowds in hopes of curbing the spread of the coronavirus. Beshear says he knows closing the childcare facilities creates a hardship to many families, but he felt it was a necessary step.
Restaurants can still keep their drive-thru, takeout and delivery services open and the governor encourages Kentuckians to continue supporting their local establishments.
He said there was one western Kentucky eatery that stated on Facebook they would defy the order, but he encouraged them to comply before the state would have to step in.
The decision to postpone the election was made in cooperation with Secretary of State Michael Adams, who says it’s their hope Kentucky and the country will be in a better place by June 23.
Governor Beshear says his office is working on guidelines for funerals and other places crowds gather that will be released in the coming days. Drivers who have a license that will expire soon will receive a three-month extension.
There are now 22 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kentucky, with the latest a 34-year old female in Jefferson County. The governor says it’s likely there are more people carrying the virus, but who are not symptomatic.
Locally, the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville have announced they will be closed through March 31 and the Bruce Convention Center is closed through March 30.