Kentucky saw an additional 726 new cases of COVID-19 from Wednesday to Thursday, according to Governor Andy Beshear, who also announced 14 new deaths.
Those new cases puts the overall total in the state at 41,626, and puts the positivity rate at 5.18 percent, which is down from Wednesday’s rate. Governor Beshear says Kentucky has had 38 deaths in the last three days, and he says August will continue to be a tough one.
Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Frielander gave an update on the Meals On Wheels program, saying they have served approximately 1.2 million meals to those in need across the state since the pandemic began. In the 2020 fiscal year as a whole, a total of 2.1 million meals have been delivered.
He also urged people to fill out the Census, which is still ongoing until the end of September and available online—he says it is more important than ever this year.
The response rate in Kentucky is around 66 percent currently. Fourteen more Kentuckians have died due to COVID-19, including 55-year old healthcare worker from Graves County and a 77-year old woman from Hopkins County, putting the total at 856.
Governor Beshear says his administration intends to make an announcement concerning evictions in the state during Monday’s press conference. When asked by a reporter who he is supporting in the presidential election, the governor said he will vote for Joe Biden. He praised the former vice president’s character and commitment to his family as major reasons.
The Tennessee Department of Health is reporting 1,375 new COVID-19 cases there and 36 new deaths. Montgomery County gained 38 cases, Robertson County reported 16 new cases and Stewart County saw no new cases.