FRANKFORT (LEX 18) — Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 1,963 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 97 total deaths in the state of Kentucky.
That is an increase of 134 cases and three additional deaths from Saturday. There have been 607 recoveries as well.
Governor Beshear also announced that state officials have partnered with Kroger to provide 20,000 COVID-19 tests across the state in the next five weeks.
Kroger will supply the medical workers, PPE, and a web sign-up portal (thelittleclinic.com).
"The possibility, the potential here just from this program could almost double the amount of testing we have right now," said Beshear. "And as we as a country and as a commonwealth look towards eventually after we peak and as we start coming down what is it going to take to ease restrictions, increasing our capacity for testing, the methods of testing is one of the most important things we're going to have to reach."
These will be drive-thru tests, free of charge, with a location currently in Frankfort. Additional locations will be announced later this week.
The drive-thru testing locations will be open Monday-Thursday from 10-a.m.-4 p.m., which will test roughly 250 people per day.
Gravity Diagnostics, who the state partnered with last week to provide 2,000 tests, is also stepping up again to make sure the testing result will be available with a 48-hour turnaround. UPS will be involved with that process as well.
Testing will be available to people wth COVID-19 symptoms as well as healthcare workers, first responders, people at least 65 years or older, or people with chronic health conditions.
Governor Beshear also mentioned a church that held in-person service, included two people who came in from New Jersey.
"Does our right to gather together entitle us to have other people die as a result? That's essentially what's happened." "This is not just about church, this is about any gathering. We are in a time and place in history where the human species has never faced for the last 100 years a threat like we face right now."
thelittleclinic.com
