In the first COVID-19 update of August, Governor Andy Beshear announced 323 new cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.
That bumps the overall total of cases up to 31,508, and the positivity rate went back up to 5.18 percent, out of 642,577 tests administered. Governor Beshear says that Monday’s update was an overall good one, though even one case is one too many, and he hopes the cases numbers will continue to go down and go into a plateau. Facial coverings already making a difference, according to the governor, who says the date proves it, showing a significant decrease in rate growth since the mandate came into effect.
He says his administration and agencies across the state, including the Christian County Health Department, is launching the ‘Mask Up’ campaign, to encourage more people to regularly wear masks in public. He says this is one of the ways people can help not only those around them, but the economy too.
Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman gave an update on actions that are being taken to help schools as they reopen, including giving districts leeway in what online instruction will look like.
Two more Kentuckians have died, including a 94-year old man from Calloway County, which puts the death toll at 744. Approximately 8,335 individuals have recovered from the virus.
The Tennessee Department of Health is reporting 1,003 new cases of COVID-19 there, putting the Volunteer State’s total at 110,636, and 19 new deaths, up to 1,092. Montgomery County gained 23 cases, Robertson County saw an additional 18 cases and Stewart County remains at 70 cases total.