FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Governor Andy Beshear has announced recommendations that counties should follow if they are in the "red zone" to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
"Number one, we have a duty as a community when things are out of hand to get them back under control," said Gov. Beshear. "But the second reason we're making these is to protect individuals who rightfully recognize how dangerous this virus is."
Red zone means that a county has 25 or more average daily cases per 100,000 people. The governor said if a specific county is red on Thursday afternoon, they are recommended to make changes starting the following 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
To see if your county is in a red zone, click here. The governor advises people to check the map every Thursday afternoon. If their county is in the red, they should adhere to these recommendations the following week.
Gov. Beshear stressed these are not mandates and are solely recommendations on how people can make their community safer.
"Mandates only work if people follow them," said Gov. Beshear. "We know that encouragement will do more than enforcement to get people on board, but this also puts ownership in each community."
The state's positivity rate is currently 5.84%.
