FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — On Sunday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are 2,960 COVID-19 cases and 148 coronavirus-related deaths in Kentucky.
Sunday's 273 cases is the highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases in Kentucky. There have also been 1,122 recoveries.
Four new deaths were also announced, including an 85-year-old woman from Hopkins County. Governor Beshear shared an emotional story about Freda Furgerson Woods, whose granddaughter wrote about in a social media post.
"My nana was a wife, a mother and a grandmother. She was a talker and also a storyteller. This July she and her husband Doug would have celebrated 64 years of marriage. They met when she was a car hop and he returned there every day to eat. She was one of the most headstrong people I'd ever known, her granddaughter wrote," said Beshear.
Governor Beshear also mentioned that Kentucky has not entered the 14-day decline of cases to begin reopening the state, per White House guidelines.
He also reiterated the benchmarks and guidelines the state will follow:
Benchmarks
-Number and rate of new cases
-Increased testing capacity and contact tracing
-Personal Protective Equipment availability
-Ability to protect at risk populations
-Ability to social distance and follow CDC guidelines on large gatherings
-Preparedness for possible future spike
-Status of a vaccine and treatment
Dr. Steven Stack added that testing would need to double in order to begin thinking about reopening businesses.
There will be four new drive-thru testing locations beginning on Tuesday in Madisonville, Paducah, Somerset and Pikeville.
Additional locations are expected to be announced on Wednesday.
