Kentucky is closing out its audit of COVID-19 deaths that went unreported during the worst months of the pandemic.
As the state marked a month-long decline in cases Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear reported a single new death linked to COVID-19.
"I don't remember the last time that was the case," he remarked.
But the total number of deaths rose by another 260 as the state wrapped up an audit meant to revisit death certificates issued between November and February. That review was extended back to the beginning of the pandemic when the state noticed COVID deaths from even earlier showing up in health department reports.
Beshear described the audit as the "most comprehensive" undertaken anywhere in the United States, adding that he expects the reports of deaths in Kentucky to slow now that it's complete.
"We won't see deaths coming in, or many deaths coming in, that are three, four, six months old," he explained.
The governor also senior centers are cleared to reopen on June 11, when the state will lift nearly all virus-related restrictions.
