After the highest number of new cases in one day during the pandemic Tuesday, the totals were back close to what Kentuckians have become accustomed to during Governor Andy Beshear’s Wednesday afternoon briefing.
There were 159 new cases from Tuesday to Wednesday, making the total 5,934. Another eight Kentuckians have died from the virus, including two women in Muhlenberg County—one 57 and one 63-years old.
The governor says at least 2,125 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, including 17 employees at the Green River Correctional Complex in Muhlenberg County who went back to work in the prison after overcoming the virus.
More of the non-urgent healthcare sector reopened in Kentucky Wednesday and Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Steven Stack reassured Kentuckians that hospitals are safe to go to if they are in need of urgent care.
Governor Beshear says Adjutant General Haldane Lamberton has offered members of the Kentucky National Guard to serve as poll workers at some of the limited in-person voting locations for the June 23 primary and that partnership is in the works. Gen. Lamberton says many of the traditional poll workers are among the most vulnerable and he saw it as an occasion to protect them.
Kentuckians will receive a post card in the mail telling them how to request an absentee ballot and there will be an online portal to begin that process. There will be some in-person absentee voting and some voting on Election Day, but the governor and Secretary of State Michael Adams are attempting to avoid crowds at polling places.
There are now 13,938 total cases in Tennessee and 239 deaths. Montgomery County has two new cases and is at 156, Robertson County picked up one to 188 and Stewart County gained one to eight cases.