FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Gov. Andy Beshear reported more than 670 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, the second-highest daily total in Kentucky as he stressed the need to follow health and policy guidelines to avoid becoming another state overwhelmed by the pandemic.
With virus cases still surging, the Democratic governor reiterated the need to wear masks in public, follow social distancing rules and frequently wash hands to curb the virus’ spread. Beshear recently ordered most people to wear facial coverings when in public.
“That’s what we’ve got to do to make sure that we are not one of these other states where their cases are exploding,” Beshear said at a news conference Tuesday. “And we still have time to act, but we’ve got to know that we are on that trajectory. We are on that path without everybody buying in and doing the right thing.”
On Monday, Beshear announced new limits on social gatherings and a travel advisory to combat the escalation of cases. Kentuckians traveling to nine hot spot states are now recommended to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. Beshear also reduced the number of people allowed at social gatherings from 50 to 10. The new rule doesn’t apply to businesses or wedding venues, he said.
Beshear said Tuesday he hopes those changes, coupled with the facial covering requirement, can get Kentucky “back on the right track.”
“We know how to beat this virus,” he added. “We’ve done it before.”
The governor reported 674 new virus cases statewide Tuesday, including nearly two dozen new cases involving children under 5. The state surpassed 24,000 virus cases since the pandemic began. More than 500 virus patients are hospitalized in Kentucky, which Beshear called a “worrisome number.”
“The good news is we still have a number of hospital beds out there,” he said. “We’re not at that critical point yet. … Six hundred cases a day, that can change pretty fast.”
The governor also reported three more virus-related deaths.
One large outbreak at a southeastern Kentucky school has spread to 38 people, a health official said. The outbreak among Hazard Independent High School football players had spread by Monday to 18 football players, three coaches and 17 family members and close contacts, Kentucky River District Health Department Director Scott Lockard told the Lexington Herald-Leader. Lockard said all 38 have been recovering at home.
The school suspended athletic team workouts July 11 after nine players and a coach tested positive for the coronavirus in a cluster, he said.
Meanwhile, the University of Kentucky offered details Tuesday about its plans to have students tested for COVID-19 as the state’s flagship school prepares to resume in-class instruction Aug. 17.
Between Aug. 3 and Aug. 22, student testing will be available each day, including weekends, at five sites on campus, the school said. Testing will be done no cost to students. The university can test up to 2,000 students daily, and test results should be returned in about 24 hours, school officials said. The university has hired Lexington-based Wild Health to perform and analyze the tests.
UK said the testing details are the first in a series of announcements in the coming weeks regarding steps to protect the campus community’s health as it prepares for the fall semester.
“We will be utilizing the best practices technology has to offer while also increasing our staffing capacity to provide our community with the health connections and resources necessary to continue to provide the education, research and service so crucial to our mission for Kentucky,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “We want to make it as easy as possible to be safe.”
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness and be fatal.
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