Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced 659 new cases in the state during Thursday’s update, and says that the state may be getting the escalation under control.
Those 659 new cases puts the overall total at 29,386 and Governor Beshear encouraged everyone to keep up those well-known health guidelines, especially making sure you are wearing a mask and frequently washing your hands. The positivity rate is sitting at 5.66 percent, so although there were more cases than Wednesday’s amount, the positivity rate decreased. The governor says he believes the data is showing a halting of the escalation.
Seven more Kentuckians have died, including Christian County’s sixth fatality, bringing death toll since the pandemic began to 731. Approximately 621,206 tests have been performed in the Commonwealth to date and around 7,495 people have recovered.
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack says it’s a good sign that hospitals have sustained good capacity and he warned that although those 60 years old and up are the more vulnerable population, younger patients can suffer long-term effects.
Governor Beshear says industries such as bars and restaurants are being massively impacted by the pandemic, due to restrictions and needs to social distance, and he urged Kentuckians to order take-out and keep supporting those businesses. Contact tracing continues to ramp up across the state as more people are hired to stay in touch with those who are ill and those they have come into direct contact with.
The Tennessee Department of Health is reporting an additional 2,049 COVID-19 cases there, up to 102,871 in total, plus 13 more deaths, up to 1,033. Montgomery County gained 44 cases, Robertson County 30 cases and Stewart County remains at 63 cases.