FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Governor Andy Beshear has announced 94 of Kentucky's 120 counties are in the "red zone" as of Thursday. That means the county has 25 or more average daily cases per 100,000 people.
The governor is advising people in these counties to follow the "Red Zone Reduction Recommendations," which include employees working from home, students learning virtually, and postponement of public/private gatherings starting Monday.
Recommendations include:
- Employers allow employees to work from home when possible
- Non-critical government offices to operate virtually
- Reduce in-person shopping; order online or curbside pickup
- Order take-out; avoid dining in restaurants or bars
- Prioritize businesses that follow and enforce mask mandate and other guidelines
- Reschedule, postpone, or cancel public and private events
- Do not host or attend gatherings of any size
- Avoid non-essential activities outside of your home
- Reduce overall activity and contacts, and follow existing guidance, including 10 steps to defeat COVID-19
"Remember, what this is supposed to do is to provide a way for these communities, 94 of them, to come together ... in a unified effort to stop the spread of this virus," said Gov. Beshear.
Schools are already advised to go virtual in the "red zone," and long-term care facilities are told they should cut visitations.
The governor is calling on employers and local governments in "red zones" to allow as many people to work virtually as possible.
Gov. Beshear says these are not mandates and are solely recommendations for communities.
"Remember, what this is supposed to do is provide a way for communities to come together to stop the virus," said Gov. Beshear. "The biggest employer in Franklin County is the state government, and we will be following the red zone recommendations next week. Anybody who can work virtually is going to work virtually. Any service that can be done virtually will be. We are going to live up to what we’re asking other people to do."
To see if your county is in a red zone, click here.
