Governor Andy Beshear says the data shows Kentucky is in a two-week decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases and that will allow all state parks, including Lake Barkley, to be open again next week.
The governor announced 113 new cases from Wednesday to Thursday, bringing the total to 9,184. There were nine additional deaths, meaning 409 Kentuckians have died from the virus since the pandemic began.
While a vast majority of the victims have been senior adults with pre-existing conditions, Governor Beshear reiterated that those populations are worth taking steps to protect and Kentucky will continue with social distancing restrictions even as the economy reopens.
He presented several charts with data showing a downward trend in new cases and says the efforts of Kentuckians during the healthy at home period were successful.
The downward trend means parks are no longer required for temporary housing related to the virus and the governor says all parks, including Barkley, will be open to the public again with restrictions in place Monday.
Executive Secretary Michael Brown said the virus outbreak at the Green River Correctional Complex in Muhlenberg County has leveled off, thanks in large part to the efforts of prison leadership, state officials and inmates.
It was announced the unemployment portal experienced a vulnerability on April 23 when claimants could have been able to see the identity verification documents submitted by other claimants. There has been no evidence at this time anyone sustained financial loss or identity theft related to the incident and the issue was rectified within just over two hours. The governor also announced the unemployment insurance system is being moved from the Education Cabinet to the Labor Cabinet.
Tennessee picked up 373 new coronavirus cases and is at 21,679 cases and 356 deaths. Montgomery County picked up three new cases to 261, Robertson is up 15 to 441 and Stewart County gained one to 11.