FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday said Kentuckians must wear masks to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus 2019 as cases rise across Kentucky and the rest of the United States.
“This week has been a tough week, with three out of the five highest days for new COVID-19 cases,” said Gov. Beshear. “This virus is everywhere. It is in your community. We need every community doing what it takes to defeat it.”
The Governor will finish his two-week quarantine tomorrow morning. The First Family has recently tested negative for the virus four times.
“Wear a mask. It saves lives. I’ve now tested negative four straight times after sitting in the passenger seat next to someone driving who was infectious with COVID,” said Gov. Beshear. “I was wearing a mask. He was wearing a mask. That shows you that it works.”
Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Oct. 23, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:
- New cases today: 1,457
- New deaths today: 16
- Positivity rate: 5.34 percent
- Total deaths: 1,396
- Currently hospitalized: 819
- Currently in ICU: 205
- Currently on ventilator: 97
Top counties with the most positive cases today are: Jefferson, Fayette, Warren, Hardin and Barren.
Those reported lost to the virus today include a 69-year-old woman from Boyd County; two women, ages 77 and 84, from Daviess County; a 71-year-old woman from Fayette County; three women, ages 84, 101 and 102, and three men, ages 73, 76 and 84, from Jefferson County; a 64-year-old man from Knott County; an 87-year-old woman from Lee County; an 84-year-old woman from Leslie County; a 75-year-old woman from Logan County; an 86-year-old woman from Marshall County; and an 80-year-old man from Todd County.
Week in Review
This week the Governor announced the Healthy at Home Utility Relief Fund, highlighted how the state is preparing for a surge in COVID-19 cases, shared that the White House is saying Kentuckians in red or orange counties shouldn’t have gatherings at all beyond their immediate families and encouraged families to plan for a safe Halloween. For more on this week’s updates, visit governor.ky.gov/news.
More Information
To view the full daily report, incidence rate map, testing locations, long term-care and other congregate facilities update, school reports, the White House Coronavirus Task Force reports for Kentucky and other key guidance visit, kycovid19.ky.gov.
Kentuckians can also access translated COVID-19 information and summaries of the Governor’s news conferences at teamkentuckytranslations.com.