coronavirus, health
Ky. COVID-19 totals up to 7,935 cases and 346 deaths – WKYT
May
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – Governor Andy Beshear held a news conference Monday evening to give updates about the COVID-19 situation in Kentucky.
(WKYT)
According to Gov. Beshear, the state’s COVID-19 numbers from Sunday and Monday brings the total of cases to 7,935 and 346 deaths. The governor says three deaths were reported Sunday and nine deaths on Monday. All 12 of those deaths were out of Jefferson County.
Sunday’s new cases were in Jefferson, Boone, Warren, Hardin, Kenton, Daviess, Muhlenberg, McCracken, Fayette, Campbell, Fleming, Graves, Jessamine, Logan, Madison, Menifee, Adair, Allen, Bell, Boyd, Bullitt, Butler, Carroll, Clark, Fulton, Gallatin, Grayson, Hart, Oldham, Owen and Shelby counties.
The governor said Monday’s cases were out of Boone, Warren, Jefferson, Kenton, Fayette, Bullitt, Madison, Anderson, Grant, Grayson, Henderson, Logan, Hart, Ohio. Adair, Bracken, Campbell, Christian, Daviess, Nelson, Perry, Pulaski, Scott, Shelby and Simpson counties.
New cases Sunday: 122
New cases Monday: 138Total cases: 7,935
New deaths Sunday: 3 (all Jefferson Co.)
New deaths Monday: 9 (all Jefferson Co.)Total deaths: 346
Total tested: 145,238
Ever hospitalized: 1,980
Now: 447Ever in ICU: 866
Now: 277Total recovered: 2,785
— Garrett Wymer (@GarrettWKYT) May 18, 2020
The governor also reported two more children, 5-year-old and an 11-year-old, are now dealing with the COVID-related inflammatory syndrome. The 5-year-old is home from the hospital, but the 11-year-old is still in the hospital. Kentucky’s first child patient with the syndrome, a 10-year-old boy, is also still in the hospital but is no longer intubated. The 16-year-old being treated for the condition is now home from the hospital.
— Phil Pendleton (@philtvnews) May 18, 2020
Gov. Beshear also talked Monday about the state’s contact tracing effort, which he says is expanding. The governor says contact tracing is being funded through the CARES Act, to meet federal and state benchmarks for reopening. He says contact tracing will be a seven-month-long public participation program of people answering the call to self-isolate.
Mark Carter will be heading up the contact tracing program.
“We have to open up the economy but we need to protect…the most vulnerable.” Mark Carter talking about contact tracing. pic.twitter.com/ftDo8rIkkZ
— Phil Pendleton (@philtvnews) May 18, 2020
Your role in contact tracing, per Carter:
- Be aware that you may be contacted by a public health worker to get info
- Understand the importance of the process, answer the calls and follow instructions
- Spread the word in your local community
Beshear: “We need you to answer the call. It is the only way we do this safely.”
— Garrett Wymer (@GarrettWKYT) May 18, 2020
Dr. Stack says the state will hire about 700 additional people to help with the contact tracing effort. He says contact tracing is the way we’re able to get the closest to what normal used to look like.
“None of this will work without your partnership,” Stack said.
