Gov. Beshear: Masks Crucial As Cases Rise Across Kentucky, United States
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 23, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday said Kentuckians must wear masks to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as cases rise across Kentucky and the rest of the United States.
“This week has been a tough week, with three out of the five highest days for new COVID-19 cases,” said Gov. Beshear. “This virus is everywhere. It is in your community. We need every community doing what it takes to defeat it.”
The Governor will finish his two-week quarantine tomorrow morning. The First Family has recently tested negative for the virus four times.
“Wear a mask. It saves lives. I’ve now tested negative four straight times after sitting in the passenger seat next to someone driving who was infectious with COVID,” said Gov. Beshear. “I was wearing a mask. He was wearing a mask. That shows you that it works.”
Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Oct. 23, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:
- New cases today: 1,457
- New deaths today: 16
- Positivity rate: 5.34%
- Total deaths: 1,396
- Currently hospitalized: 819
- Currently in ICU: 205
- Currently on ventilator: 97
Top counties with the most positive cases today are: Jefferson, Fayette, Warren, Hardin and Barren.
Those reported lost to the virus today include a 69-year-old woman from Boyd County; two women, ages 77 and 84, from Daviess County; a 71-year-old woman from Fayette County; three women, ages 84, 101 and 102, and three men, ages 73, 76 and 84, from Jefferson County; a 64-year-old man from Knott County; an 87-year-old woman from Lee County; an 84-year-old woman from Leslie County; a 75-year-old woman from Logan County; an 86-year-old woman from Marshall County; and an 80-year-old man from Todd County.
Week in Review
This week the Governor announced the Healthy at Home Utility Relief Fund, highlighted how the state is preparing for a surge in COVID-19 cases, shared that the White House is saying Kentuckians in red or orange counties shouldn’t have gatherings at all beyond their immediate families and encouraged families to plan for a safe Halloween. For more on this week’s updates, visit governor.ky.gov/news.
More Information
To view the full daily report, incidence rate map, testing locations, long term-care and other congregate facilities update, school reports, the White House Coronavirus Task Force reports for Kentucky and other key guidance visit, kycovid19.ky.gov.
Kentuckians can also access translated COVID-19 information and summaries of the Governor’s news conferences at teamkentuckytranslations.com.
