Gov. Andy Beshear said additional steps may need to be taken as early as Wednesday to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Kentucky — though they would not be as restrictive as orders issued in the spring.
“If we have to take additional steps, it will not look like what we went through in March, in April and into May,” Beshear said. “At that time, we did not have enough testing; we had almost no PPE to protect those in hospitals; we didn’t know the most effective ways to treat this virus so the mortality rate was through the roof; and we didn’t know as much about the spread. If we have to take additional steps, they will be more targeted.”
That announcement comes after another pharmaceutical company said they have developed a highly effective coronavirus vaccine. Moderna and Pfizer have both announced their vaccines appear to be more than 90% effective as clinical trials continue.
Though it will be months before any vaccine is widely available, Beshear said he hopes Kentuckians will be patient and follow safety precautions until that time.
“If we can see that finish line, the question is are we going to try our hardest to make sure we lose as few people as possible before we get there, or are we going to just be casual about it,” Beshear said. “We need everybody with this new news to buckle down and make sure you’re making good decisions each and every day because peoples’ lives depend on it.”
Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander also provided an update on Kentucky’s efforts against COVID-19 in long-term care facilities — a top area of focus for state officials.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health will mobilize strike teams to hard-hit facilities, and the Kentucky National Guard also will mobilize 10 non-clinical support teams. Guidance has been updated with regard to communal dining, group activities and offsite travel, including a recommendation that residents leave a facility only when medically necessary and for needs that cannot be met on site or through telehealth.
If a resident leaves a facility for an outing, they will be expected to go into quarantine upon returning to the facility.
“We are working around the clock to continue to do all that we are able to combat what is a vicious, highly contagious disease,” said Secretary Friedlander. “Among 382 long-term care facilities with active cases, 38 have at least 15 active cases, a dramatic rise from the 15 facilities with at least 15 active cases as of Oct. 30. There’s a continued need to balance the emotional and mental well-being of residents and their family members and the harsh reality of this pandemic.”
Beshear announced 1,514 new coronavirus cases in Kentucky on Monday. Kentucky now has 103 of 120 counties in the red zone, including all seven in the Green River District.
Kentucky’s positivity rate also rose to 8.98% Monday, marking the highest rate since testing became widely available statewide.
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