Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday provided brief updates on Phase 3 of healthcare reopening, case information, two children being ill, and child care, and he urged Kentuckians and businesses to remain vigilant under the Healthy at Work guidance.
He said Kentuckians need to be resilient, resourceful and resolute in the fight against COVID-19, even as warmer weather brings new opportunities for gatherings – and virus transmission.
“We’re going to get through this together because we’re strong enough, we’re resilient enough and at the end of the day, we’re going to make good decisions,” he said. “At different times we’re going to be tempted. We’re at the beginning of summer and we all want it to be a normal summer. But we don’t get a normal summer in the midst of a worldwide health pandemic.”
Even with the easing of some restrictions, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health Steven Stack stressed that workplaces will not be reopening to business as usual. Likewise, he said, no one should expect summer activities to run as usual this year.
“Early reports suggest that warm weather may not help us with this virus,” Dr. Stack said. “We were hoping that we might have some diminishment of the disease in the summer months, like with seasonal influenza, but early signs are we may not be able to count on that.”
Phase 3 of healthcare reopening
Wednesday marks the next step in the reopening of the state’s health care sector. Hospitals and care facilities can begin doing non-emergency surgeries and procedures at 50% of their pre-COVID-19-era patient volume. Facilities will determine their own patient capacities starting May 27, as long as progress continues.
Case information
Beshear said there were at least 6,853 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 191 of which were newly confirmed Tuesday. He also reported 10 new deaths Tuesday, raising the total to 321 Kentuckians lost to the virus. At least 2,546 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
Child illness
Beshear and Stack provided an update on the coronavirus in children after one young Kentuckian was apparently suffering from a rare, but not unknown, complication related to COVID-19.
The governor said Monday that a 10-year-old child in Kentucky was on a ventilator after becoming ill with COVID-19. On Tuesday, he said the child was improving. A 16-year-old Kentuckian has also been hospitalized with the virus but is not relying on a ventilator to breathe.
In discussing the symptoms that children might experience with the virus, Stack provided examples of symptoms and said that additional guidance and information is likely coming Wednesday.
Stack said the syndrome being recognized causes young people’s immune systems to become overactive, sparking an inflammatory response in their bodies.
Continued telework
Beshear said while Kentucky businesses are being encouraged to safely restart on a staggered schedule, owners and operators should continue to allow employees to telework when possible. Encouraging telework is the first of the 10 rules of staying healthy at work. Beshear’s administration is providing industry-specific guidance on reopening.
Child care options
Beshear said child care options would expand on June 15, but would still not be back to normal until there is a vaccine or a cure. Parents can expect more limited capacity, and guidance will be issued in advance of the reopening.
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
