There are seven new cases of COVID-19 at Western State Hospital and three additional cases at the Green River Correctional Complex in Muhlenberg County.
That’s according to Governor Andy Beshear, who said during Saturday’s briefing that Kentucky had 184 total new cases, bringing the overall total to 1,840. There have been four additional deaths, marking 94 since the pandemic began.
The governor says 21-percent of those fatalities have been African-Americans, a disproportionately high number compared to Kentucky’s population.
There are now 29 total active cases at Western State after five additional staff and two patients tested positive.
The new cases at Green River Correctional Complex are two staff members and one inmate. There are 153 residents and 92 staff members at long-term care facilities infected across the commonwealth and there have been 21 deaths stemming from those facilities.
U.S. Senator Rand Paul, Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Ag. Commissioner Ryan Quarles have publicly opposed the governor’s decision to have state police take down the license plate numbers of cars at in-person mass gatherings this weekend so that local health departments can order those attendees to quarantine.
Governor Beshear says there are only seven churches in the entire state that plan to hold in-person services and their actions could negate the sacrifices of the 99.9-percent of churches who have chosen to have virtual or drive-in services for Easter Sunday.
The governor says he supports the drive-in services scheduled across the state as long as those conducting the service use social distancing and attendees park six feet apart and stay inside their vehicles.
There are now 5,114 confirmed cases in Tennessee and 101 deaths. Montgomery County has 88 cases, Robertson is up to 81 and Stewart County has four confirmed cases.
Social distancing, avoiding crowds and frequent hand washing remain the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.