Tuesday Kentucky appeared to rebound from several days of uncommonly low COVID-19 cases with its highest single day total, but widen the picture, the governor says, and the commonwealth still stands out.
Despite seven new deaths and a sizable jump in coronavirus cases with 147, Gov. Andy Beshear noted that the numbers follow several days of artificially low numbers due to fewer labs reporting.
"Our three-day trend is actually lower than our last three-day trend," the governor said. "And I'm not sure many places in America can say that right now."
Current areas of concern include nursing homes, where 55 residents have tested positive along with 22 staff statewide. Beshear also highlighted Green River Correction Complex and Western State Hospital as potential hot spots where the state is concentrating more attention.
In the meantime, State Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack reported that 32 Kentucky hospitals have partnered to expand testing with a goal of reaching a maximum of 2,000 tests a day, as availability allows.
"We have the systems in place, testing has started, and we have enough supplies on hand to begin to gradually ramp up over the first weeks," he said.
The state is also bolstering staff to handle the massive influx of unemployment claims. Over the course of three weeks, the claims line has gone from a typical staff of just 12 to a goal of ending this week with as many as 1,200.
Other news:
- Governor Beshear is urging healthcare workers being lured to other states offering temporary higher pay to "stick with us," and reminding them that they must self-quarantine for 14 days after returning should they choose to work outside the state.
- The total number of novel coronavirus cases in Kentucky stands at 1,149, as of Tuesday afternoon.
- The racial makeup of cases in the state is: 79% Caucasian, 12% African-American, 2.6% Asian, and 2% multi-racial. Those totals are based on 68% of the known cases in the state.
- A pilot drive-up testing program in Frankfort is "on pause," due to a shortage of personal protective equipment.
- Asked about his campaign promises ($2,000 raises for teachers, increased per-pupil funding, hiring more social workers), Beshear said he still wants to see those initiatives enacted while he's governor.
- At least four businesses in kentucky have started manufacturing personal protective equipment (PPE).
