Kentuckians are being instructed to avoid all travel to other states under a new executive order signed by Governor Andy Beshear. The mandate comes as Kentucky continues to see increased COVID-19 activity on its borders.
State officials have been keeping a close eye not just on coronavirus cases in Kentucky but surrounding states, in particular Tennessee. Areas of heightened concern include regions just south of Simpson, Todd, and Logan counties.
The new order recommends Kentuckians cease all out-of-state travel unless it's required for one's job, healthcare, grocery shopping, to take care of a loved one, or if it's court-ordered. Anyone who travels for any other reason will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.
"What we don't want is your favorite barber is across the state lines. We don't want you to go for that. The weather is turning really nice. We don't want you to go for pedicures," Beshear chief of staff La Tasha Buckner gave examples, adding all returning spring breakers should also quarantine for two weeks.
The governor reported two deaths and 42 new cases as of Monday afternoon. The relatively low new case count is a sign that the state's efforts to decrease social contact are working, Beshear said, but "we're probably not going to have many more days in the next couple weeks where we only have 42 new cases."
With regard to testing, the governor said he hopes to have good news about kits this week, but he has yet to see proof that potential partners can deliver and won't be making an announcement until the state meets certain benchmarks. Once more testing is available, he said it will not be limited hotspots.
