KY Reports Highest Daily COVID-19 Total; Governor Considers Government Action

The state reported 1,275 new cases on Saturday.

(Frankfort, Ky.) – Governor Andy Beshear is urging Kentuckians to mask up after the state reported its highest-ever daily and weekly totals for positive COVID-19 cases.

Beshear announced yesterday that the state saw 1,275 new cases as of Saturday. Another 543 cases were newly reported on Monday.

“Because of the increase in positive cases that we’re seeing and with the weeks that are likely ahead, we are going to need to hear and to know that we’re going to get through this and we’re going to get through this together,” the Governor said. “If the current trends continue, it will be a difficult fall and a difficult winter, but I believe that we have the opportunity to improve our situation. One of the big ways we do that is wearing a mask.”

Beshear added that masks are the greatest and most important tool for “getting back to everything we want to do.”

“Do the right thing: Mask up,” said Beshear.

As of Monday afternoon, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 73,158 coronavirus cases in Kentucky. A total of 1,214 Kentuckians have been lost to the virus, including five people that died on Monday.

“More cases equal more death,” the Governor said. “If we are more casual, as opposed to more urgent, we will lose more of our family and friends. It’s hard because you can’t see it, but it happens. If we aren’t strong, other people typically pay for it. Let’s be strong.”

To date, over 1.5 million Kentuckians have been tested for coronavirus. The positivity rate currently stands at 4.69 percent, with at least 12,445 Kentuckians recovered from the virus.

Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear said the rising number of cases is going to spark a response from government unless and until Kentuckians get the growth under control.

“We cannot have repeats of last week. Last week was our single highest week in terms of positive cases,” the Governor said. “The week before had been the highest week, and we shattered that record.”

Gov. Beshear said he would focus this week on stepping up enforcement on regulations put in place to protect Kentuckians during the coronavirus crisis. Businesses should not serve customers who refuse to wear a mask, the Governor said.

For more information, visit www.kentucky.gov and www.govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19.