After reporting 2,990 new COVID-19 cases in the state Tuesday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear urged everyone to go one more holiday with restrictions in place to help keep people healthy.
That brings the overall total of cases up to 261,492 in the Commonwealth, and while Governor Beshear says they’re pretty positive new cases are in decline, it’s more important than ever to limit gatherings to celebrate the New Year—even though everyone is eager to leave 2020 behind.
He says any large gatherings where people are not wearing masks should be avoided, and if you do gather, keep it below eight people and make sure masks are being worn when not eating or drinking. He will be extending the face mask mandate requiring they be worn in businesses and other locations, with the extension set to begin on January 2.
The positivity rate is now at 8.41 percent, an increase from the day before—Governor Beshear says the time two weeks away from holidays has passed will really show whether there will be a spike in cases. Thirty-one more Kentuckians have died due to COVID-19, including a 77-year old man from Marshall County, putting the death total at 2,594.
The Tennessee Department of Health is reporting 4,797 new COVID-19 cases, along with 122 new deaths—that puts the number of Tennesseans who have died due to COVID at 6,710.