Beshear talks prevention for coronavirus, confirms Kentucky has zero confirmed cases

February 28, 2020 | 12:10 am

Updated February 27, 2020 | 8:47 pm

In a press conference held Thursday in Frankfort, Gov. Andy Beshear said Kentucky isn’t yet facing risks regarding the coronavirus — officially named COVID-19 — but that the state is prepared for it.

The U.S. has confirmed 60 patients who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 in America, while more than 80,000 cases have been detected worldwide. Stock markets have crashed and stores have begun to run out of earloop masks as people become more worried about the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Beshear tried to ease those nerves Thursday as he repeatedly explained that there are no active cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky and that the risk of it coming into Kentucky is low, adding that 100 people in the state have so far tested negative for the virus.

Those 100 people who have traveled to China in the last 14 days have been asked to self-isolate and monitor their temperatures. Most of them have already been released from self-isolation and all have tested negative for the virus, Beshear said.

“Let me be very clear — no one in Kentucky has been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus,” he said. “We have zero confirmed cases of this form of coronavirus.”

While Beshear said he understands the fear surrounding the spread of COVID-19, he assured the public that their government was prepared and ready to fight whatever came Kentucky’s way.

Beshear asked Kentuckians to take some necessary and “pretty basic” steps toward preparedness and prevention — the same steps one would take against catching the flu or common cold, he said.

“Like getting a flu shot — if you haven’t gotten a flu shot, go get one,” he said. “Stay home if you don’t feel well. Don’t come to work if you’re sick. Properly wash your hands — that’s incredibly important to stopping the spread. These are steps that not only help protect yourself but protect other Kentuckians around you.”

Beshear added that hands should be washed for 20 seconds with soap and water, though alcohol-based sanitizers would suffice as well. Coughs and sneezes should be covered, not with one’s hand, but with their arm or a tissue.

Beshear also announced the launch of a new website dedicated to helping answer questions from the public. It will be updated with the most recent information as soon as the state government receives it, he said.

“Our state health operations center has been activated at Level 2, which means we are focused on preparedness, planning and response activities,” he said. “Our public health department is contacting and monitoring anyone they’re aware of who has traveled in the last 14 days to China, the primary country of concern, to determine if they develop any symptoms.”

International travel to other countries other than China is not currently considered a risk for the virus at this time, Beshear added.

“We will be transparent as the situation evolves. We will make sure that all those families out there that are nervous are kept up to date,” he said.

Eric Friedander, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said local health departments across the state were on “the front line” in detecting any public health concerns and would be working with the state government in reporting those concerns.

“The potential global public health posed by this virus is high, but the immediate risk to Kentuckians is low,” Friedlander said. “Public health response efforts have been very well executed and have delayed the spread of the virus in the US, but this will become more difficult.”

Nonetheless, Friedlander assured the public that the state government was proactively working to prevent COVID-19 from spreading to and across the state and that he had full faith in the federal government to do its part as well.

February 28, 2020 | 12:10 am

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