Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced 805 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, along with 22 new deaths, as he addressed Kentuckians directly in an address.
That brings the overall total of cases up to 54,772 and 122 of the newly reported cases were from children ages 18 and younger. Kentucky passed the grim milestone of over 1,000 Kentuckian lives lost on Wednesday, and the 22 newly reported deaths puts that total at 1,035.
During an address to Kentuckians Thursday afternoon, the governor implored citizens to follow the oft-repeated health guidelines that he says will save lives going forward.
The positivity rate bounced back up to 4.14 percent and the governor says the fight continues to keep it below five percent and hopefully get it back down below four percent soon. Governor Beshear addressed those who downplay the virus or say the number of COVID deaths is inflated.
A wreath laying ceremony was held Thursday morning in the Capitol Rotunda in memory of those who have been lost and in honor of their families. The wreath-laying was preceded by a brief performance by the hand bell ensemble from First United Methodist Church in Frankfort.
The Tennessee Department of Health is reporting 1,650 new COVID-19 cases there and 57 deaths, a record for the Volunteer State. Montgomery County gained 42 new cases, Robertson County saw 26 new cases and Stewart County gained three new cases.