Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced 1,054 new cases of COVID-19 in the state Tuesday, while giving an update on unemployment.
That makes the overall total 74,194, and the positivity rate is sitting around 4.29 percent, and the mortality rate in Kentucky is at 1.7 percent. Governor Beshear says to not let that low percentage fool you though—it still represents a large of amount of Kentuckians who could die from contracting the virus.
The governor says they will be extending the mandatory face mask order for another 30 days, following White House recommendations. Four more Kentuckians have died, putting the death toll in the state at 1,218.
General Counsel Amy Cubbage explained that only certain people are eligible for the additional $400 in unemployment—very different from the $600 that was available earlier in the year. She says they continue to approve more claims than they deny, and that many payments through the Lost Wages Assistance Program through FEMA have already gone out.
She says over 1.2 million unemployment claims have been made in Kentucky since March and the work continues to get every one of them addressed and processed.
The Tennessee Department of Health is reporting 1,676 new COVID-19 cases, and 24 new deaths. Montgomery County added 29 new cases, Robertson County gained seven and Stewart County saw two new cases.