Twenty people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died in Kentucky and there are 93 new cases in the commonwealth.
That brings the overall total to about 680 and Governor Andy Beshear says there is coronavirus in all 120 counties, whether the data reflects it or not. One of those patients is associated with Western State Hospital in Hopkinsville, though the governor says he has no other details to give. Over 10,000 people have been tested in the commonwealth.
Governor Beshear highlighted the widespread COVID-19 outbreak in Hopkins County and quoted information from the health department tracing it back to one Dawson Springs church revival meeting after being told it was dangerous to congregate.
He says because of those actions, people across the county and region have become infected and two Hopkins County residents have died.
The governor went over White House projections for Kentucky that show 1,300 to 3,200 deaths with social distancing protocols that have been implemented—but he says we can all do our best to bring that down.
He notes Kentucky will have nice weather this weekend, but that’s not an occasion to get out in crowds and violate those social distancing directives. Kentucky currently has 18,500 hospital beds, 1,300 ICU beds and1,352 ventilators available.
There is still a backlog of valid unemployment claims with issues that need to be worked out, but the governor and his administration says they are getting through them as quickly as possible. They’ve also beefed up staff processing claims over the phone and directed anyone who can to file online.
Tennessee has risen to 2,683 cases, including 27 in Montgomery County and 35 in Robertson. Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts issued an executive order Wednesday directing citizens to shelter at home and closing several types of non-essential businesses—including hair salons, night clubs and entertainment venues, bowling alleys and others.
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