Beshear: Kentucky Will Defeat COVID-19
FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 5, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday that Kentuckians will defeat the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) by learning from the Greatest Generation and employing the qualities of personal responsibility.
“Those qualities of personal responsibility are critically important. My actions and how they impact other people, I am responsible for,” Gov. Beshear said. “Of integrity. Of knowing, we do not get days off when it comes to this virus, and knowing the impact that we can have on others. Work ethic. We have to have the work ethic to complete our task and to come out of this having protected those around us. Finally, faithful commitment. We are fully committed to defeating this virus. We are going to faithfully continue to do what it takes. This is our moment in history, and people’s lives depend on us.”
Teacher Appreciation Week
Gov. Beshear hailed the work of Kentucky’s great educators during Teacher Appreciation Week and Teacher Appreciation Day, May 5.
“We so appreciate the job our teachers are doing,” said Gov. Beshear. “What teachers have done in this time of crisis is truly amazing. From preparing work for children to complete at home to helping deliver food – thank you.”
Case information
As of 5 p.m. May 5, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 5,822 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 625 of which were newly confirmed Tuesday. More than 300 of the positive cases were from testing at Green River Correctional Complex.
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear also reported 14 new deaths Tuesday, raising the state’s toll to 275 deaths related to the virus. Many of those deaths were related to long-term care facilities, the Governor said.
The deaths include a 79-year-old man and an 89-year-old woman from Boone County; an 85-year-old man from Henderson County; a 77-year-old man from Hopkins County; two women, ages 59 and 70, from Jackson County; two men, ages 35 and 91, and two women, ages 63 and 69, from Jefferson County; and three women, ages 86, 88 and 96, and a 94-year-old man from Kenton County.
At least 2,058 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus. The number of Kentuckians tested is at least 61,013.
Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH), said focused testing in confined populations, like long-term care facilities, meatpacking and processing facilities and prisons, can often have much higher positivity rates once the infection enters the community.
“We are about to embark on a very aggressive program to test the long-term care facilities over the weeks ahead at a very brisk pace,” Dr. Stack said. “Thank you for what you have done, but I have to continue to emphasize that we must continue these efforts even as we are trying to ease health care back into a better level of functionality and even as the Governor has announced the Phase 1 reopening plan. The normal we return to will be a new normal. It will not be the same normal we left until we get access to a vaccine or until we get access to a fantastic treatment or cure.”
Dr. Stack also noted that Perdue Farms would be taking the necessary steps to test employees.
Testing update; new Pikeville location
Gov. Beshear offered an update on expanding efforts to boost testing throughout the commonwealth. The Governor announced a new drive-through testing site in Pikeville, as part of a partnership with the Pike County Health Department, Gravity Labs and Pikeville Medical Center. The testing is being conducted today through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pikeville Medical Center, 172 S. Mayo Trail in Pikeville. The site can conduct 70 tests daily and filled all of those slots today.
For more information on testing locations and how to sign up visit, kycovid19.ky.gov.
