FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Just under an hour before the mask mandate began in the state of Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that there are now 18,670 COVID-19 cases and 620 coronavirus-related deaths in the state.
Friday's results include 426 new cases and eight new deaths.
The amount of new cases is the second highest single-day increase Kentucky has had.
"This is really, really alarming," said Gov. Beshear.
"That's why we're acting early, that's why we're acting fast. And that's why, no matter what people try to throw out there, and I'll answer questions later, yes this is mandatory," Gov. Beshear continued on the mask mandate that began Friday.
"Regardless of anything else that's out there. We can explain why. This is really important to do."
He emphasized that he doesn't want to see the state follow the same trends as Arizona, Texas, Florida, or California, who's COVID-19 numbers have exploded over the last couple of weeks.
"We can't allow that to happen to us," said Gov. Beshear. "I'm not going to allow that to happen to us. If we want to be what Kentucky has been, a model of success, not where Arizona is right now which has a lot of people hurting, I'm not trying to compare governors, I'm not trying to compare states, I'm just trying to make sure we don't end up in a dire situation the citizens in that state are facing."
Gov. Beshear also says there are 12 children below the age of five, including a one-month-old and three-month-old, tested positive in Friday's results.
