News

9.23.20

FROM THE LAKE CUMBERLAND DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT:

Statewide Testing Positivity Rate: 4.59%.

Deaths: We are pleased to report no new deaths today. We have experienced a total of 69 deaths resulting in a 2.6% mortality rate among known cases. This compares with a 1.8% mortality rate at the state level, and a 3.1% morality rate at the national level.

Hospitalizations: We presently have 13 cases in the hospital. This is 2 more than yesterday. The most hospitalizations we have had at any one time was 33 on 09/02/2020. We have had a total of 225 hospitalizations resulting in a 8.4% hospitalization rate among known cases. The state hospitalization rate is 8%. The latest state data shows that 66% of ICU beds and 23% of ventilator capacity are being utilized.

Total (Cumulative) Cases: The Lake Cumberland District has experienced a total of 2,673 cases since the onset of the outbreak. This means that 1.28% of our total population have been a confirmed case. However, we do not know how many additional people may have had COVID-19 and were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and never tested.

Released (Not contagious) Cases: We released 34 cases today from isolation. Released cases include: Adair: 3; Clinton: 3; Cumberland: 1; Green: 5; McCreary: 2; Pulaski: 14; Russell: 3; and, Taylor: 3. In all, we have released 89.7% of our total cases.

Active (Current) Cases: We released 9 more cases today than we added new cases. Taking all things into account, this leaves us with 206 active cases in our district across all 10 of our district’s 10 counties. On 09/02/2020 we were at our peak number of active cases, 411.

Where are Cases Tied to: The most common areas to which where we are seeing cases tied are (in descending order): Schools, Businesses, Family, and Medical Facilities.

New Cases: We report that our total case count has increased by 25 today: Cumberland: 1; Green: 1; McCreary: 3; Pulaski: 8; Russell: 4; Taylor: 2; and, Wayne: 6. Our current new case growth rate is: 1.01. This means our total case count is projected to double every 71.63 days. The most new cases we ever added in a single day was on 08/26/2020 when we added 75 cases. Today’s new cases include:

Cumberland: A 39-year-old male who is released, 9/19/20
Green: A 43-year-old female who is released, 8/31/20
McCreary: A 11-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
McCreary: A 22-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
McCreary: A 13-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
Pulaski: A 56-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 49-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 70-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 61-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 65-year-old male who is hospitalized, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 54-year-old female who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
Pulaski: A 68-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Pulaski: A 75-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Russell: A 53-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Russell: A 50-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Russell: A 45-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Russell: A 48-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Taylor: A 67-year-old female who is hospitalized, still symptomatic
Taylor: A 71-year-old male who is self-isolated, asymptomatic
Wayne: A 62-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Wayne: A 32-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Wayne: A 5 months-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Wayne: A 25-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Wayne: A 28-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic
Wayne: A 5-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic

We are glad for fewer new cases today than yesterday and for no new deaths. However, we have 2 more hospitalized cases compared to yesterday; and, we have 7 counties now in the “orange-accelerated” new case range. Fortunately, we have no counties in the “red-critical” range of new cases.

Please, let’s all continue to do our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by wearing our face coverings, avoiding crowds (especially in confined spaces), social distancing when around others, increasing our hand hygiene, increasing our general sanitation, and by avoiding the touching of our faces.

The Lake Cumberland area has experienced 2,673 cumulative confirmed cases and there have been 63,572 confirmed COVID-19 cases across all 120 Kentucky Counties as of today (this includes 63,517 statewide plus 55 recently reported cases in Lake Cumberland not in the Governor’s/Department for Public Health’s daily report). Regardless of the confirmed case count for any Lake Cumberland County, we believe COVID-19 to be widespread. The LCDHD is working tirelessly, including nights and weekends, to identify and contact all those with whom any positive case may have come into close contact, and to follow-up daily with positive cases. Additionally, we are striving diligently to follow-up on business-related complaints regarding noncompliance with the Governor’s Executive Orders.

Voters will be able to vote at one of four locations on Election Day, Nov. 3.
County Clerk Lisa Greer announced last week that all voters can vote at any of the four locations but the county’s usual precincts will not be open.

The locations that will be open Nov. 3 are Trinity United Methodist Church, 2252 Campbellsville Rd.; VFW building, 500 Greenhills Rd.; Jim Blair Center, 901 Hudson St.; and the courthouse annex basement, 424 Public Sq.
Early in-person voting will start Tuesday, Oct. 13 and continue through Nov. 2 at the courthouse annex basement from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday.

Voters may choose to vote by a mail-in ballot. Mail-in ballots must be requested. Requests may be made online at GOVOTEKY.COM or call the county clerk’s office. The deadline to request an absentee mail ballot is Friday, Oct. 9 unless there is a medical emergency.
Ballots may either be mailed or dropped into a drop box at the county clerk’s office.

Ballots must be received in a ballot drop box by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The drop box will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday except Saturday, Oct. 10, when it will be closed.
Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and will be accepted until Friday, Nov. 6.

For more information, contact the county clerk’s office at 270-384-2801 or email Lisa.Greer@ky.gov.

 

Visit the Governor’s Facebook page to watch today’s news conference

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 22, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday updated Kentuckians on the state’s continuing efforts to fight the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

“The tough news is tough news for us as a country: We’ve now lost 200,000 Americans to the coronavirus – 200,000. It’s difficult to comprehend that this virus that pretty much didn’t exist at the beginning of the year, in about six months would take 200,000 Americans,” the Governor said. “I certainly don’t have a challenge in my lifetime where we have lost so many Americans.

“And I can’t think of one in the past that’s occurred that some people denied. This virus is deadly, it’s real and it’s harming and killing us. And on a day when we’ve lost 200,000, and some numbers are going up, we have to understand our fight is still going on.

“It’s going to take as long as it takes, it’s going to be difficult. The fact that we’ve already lost 200,000 ought to tell you how powerful this virus is and make us commit to doing the right things to defeat it. Two hundred thousand. We’ve only got a couple Kentucky cities that are larger than 200,000.”

‘The Fast 4 at 4’
Gov. Beshear on Tuesday highlighted a variety of issues of importance to Kentuckians and the commonwealth.

1. National Voter Registration Day
   Today is National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy, observed on the fourth Tuesday of September since 2012. Gov. Beshear recognized the holiday and encouraged all Kentuckians to register on time and make their voices heard in November.

   “This ought to remind everyone to register to vote and then make sure to vote,” said Gov. Beshear. “You have more opportunities to vote than ever, so we should be able to set a turnout record this year.”

2. Flu Shots
   Gov. Beshear again emphasized that all Kentuckians who are able should receive a seasonal flu shot. Because we are still engaged in a very active fight against the coronavirus, health experts are warning that a bad seasonal flu outbreak might spark a “twindemic” that could overwhelm health care systems.

   “I got mine the other day, it really doesn’t hurt and it protects you,” said Gov. Beshear. “It’s perfectly safe to do it.”

3. Higher Education Financial Aid Options
   Today, the Governor highlighted financial assistance available for Kentucky students pursuing higher education.

   “We want Kentucky students to be preparing for their futures now – whether that’s college or advanced training – so when we emerge from this pandemic, they’ll be ready to take advantage of the opportunities awaiting them,” said Gov. Beshear. “And we want every Kentucky student to access the federal and state assistance available to the greatest extent possible.”

   The Governor also encouraged, “If you are in school and experiencing financial difficulty, contact your school’s financial aid office. They can help reassess your financial need, which could result in your aid being increased.”

   Students can contact the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) at KHEAA.com or 800-928-8926 for questions about student financial assistance and how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

   The FAFSA for the 2021-22 school year will become available here on Oct. 1, 2020.

   KHEAA administers the state’s scholarship and grant programs. In fiscal year 2020, thanks to proceeds from the Kentucky Lottery, more than $272 million in state scholarships and grants were awarded to Kentucky college students.

   Students can also turn to KHEAA’s sister agency, The Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation (KHESLC), Kentucky’s only source for state-based, fixed interest rate, competitive private education loans.

   Loans administered by KHESLC help Kentucky students afford college when an unmet need still exists after all scholarships and grants have been exhausted.

   KHESLC has also assisted thousands of borrowers with financial hardships during the COVID-19 by offering forbearances, which allow loans to be put on hold for specific amounts of time.

   For more information on KHESLC and the resources offered to help education borrowers, visit KHESLC.com.

4. National Recovery Month
   Today, Gov. Beshear recognized National Recovery Month, which is held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.

   “You meet some of the hard-working folks helping others through recovery, many of whom have gone through this themselves, dedicating their lives to help other people,” said Gov. Beshear. “You see a little bit of God’s grace right there.”

   The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy reports that roughly 22 million people in the United States are in recovery as of today.

   The Kentucky Chamber started the Opioid Response Program for Business, which launched in June 2019, in response to Kentucky employers struggling to navigate the issue of workforce participation and overdose deaths.

   “One special story: Rob Perez owns DV8 Kitchen in Lexington where all of his employees are in recovery,” said Gov. Beshear. “He shared his business has seen huge successes including a turnover rate that is 1/3 better than the national average and a longer tenure of employees. And, DV8 was named the 40th best restaurant in America.”

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Sept. 22, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 62,731 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 824 of which were newly reported Tuesday. One hundred and thirty-four of the newly reported cases were from children ages 18 and younger, 22 of which were children ages 5 and under. The youngest was 6 days old.

“Not only do we have more cases than I’d like today – 824, and 134 are kids under 18 – but our positivity rate is back up over 4%, at 4.52%,” said Gov. Beshear.

Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear reported seven new deaths Tuesday, raising the total to 1,119 Kentuckians lost to the virus.

The deaths reported Tuesday include an 87-year-old man from Hardin County; a 79-year-old man from Jefferson County; a 56-year-old woman from Marion County; a 69-year-old woman and two men, ages 79 and 90, from McCracken County; and a 92-year-old man from Taylor County.

“Let’s light our homes up green for these seven families. Let’s ring our bells every morning at 10 a.m. To the families it doesn’t matter when during this pandemic their family members passed away, it hurts just the same,” said Gov. Beshear. “Let’s make sure we show them the respect we have for everybody else.”

As of Tuesday, there have been at least 1,142,031 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate was 4.52%, and at least 11,361 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.

For additional information, including up-to-date lists of positive cases and deaths, as well as breakdowns of coronavirus infections by county, race and ethnicity, click here. To see all recent daily reports, click here.

Information about COVID-19 and schools is also being made available. To view the reports, click here for K-12 and here for colleges and universities.

Lost Wages Assistance (LWA)
As of today, Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for an additional three weeks of LWA payments. Eligible Kentuckians will receive $400 for the weeks of Aug. 22, Aug. 29, and Sept. 5 for each week a claimant meets the criteria.

Eligibility criteria:

• Individuals who qualify for a weekly benefit of at least $100 per week in unemployment compensation for each week covered by FEMA’s LWA

• Individuals who have self-certified that their employment has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

Payments will be automatically processed for claimants who meet the weekly benefit criteria and have already provided a self-certification. Claimants meeting the weekly benefit requirement who have not yet self-certified will be given an opportunity to provide the required self-certification, and those claimants will receive the benefit so long as FEMA funding remains.

More Information
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Kentuckians can also access translated COVID-19 information and summaries of the Governor’s news conferences at teamkentuckytranslations.com.

Visit the Governor’s Facebook page to watch today’s news conference

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday updated Kentuckians on the state’s continuing efforts to fight the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

“We need two things as we go forward fighting COVID,” the Governor said. “We need that strength and endurance knowing that it is going to end and we’ve got to be strong enough to do the right thing until it ends. We also need to have flexibility, knowing that this virus can pop up in an area and absolutely take off.”

‘The Fast 4 at 4’

Gov. Beshear on Monday highlighted a variety of issues of importance to Kentuckians and the commonwealth.

1. Flu shots
   Gov. Beshear began Monday’s news conference by stressing the importance of all Kentuckians who are able receiving a seasonal flu shot do so. Because we are still engaged in a very active fight against the coronavirus, health experts are warning that a bad seasonal flu outbreak might spark a “twindemic” that could overwhelm health care systems.

   “This season, more than ever, we need to ensure that every Kentuckian who can gets that flu shot,” the Governor said. “We don’t want to be dealing with COVID-19 and a widespread flu outbreak this season.”

2. Voting and Census
   Gov. Beshear again encouraged all Kentuckians to make a plan to vote, either by mail, in person during early voting or in person on Election Day and to fill out a U.S. Census form.

   “Remember, you have to register to vote by Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. local time,” the Governor said. “Democrats and Republicans have stepped up this year to come up with a plan to let you vote safely.”

   He reminded Kentuckians that if they have concerns about COVID-19, they can go online right now to request an absentee ballot at GoVoteKy.com.

   He spoke of the importance of every Kentuckian taking time to fill out a U.S. Census form, stressing the once-per-decade count’s link to funding for schools and child welfare.

   “We only have a limited number of days left to fill out the 2020 census. If we don’t fill this out, our dollars go to another state,” said Gov. Beshear.

3. Delta Regional Authority Grants
   Today, Gov. Beshear announced $4,755,270 in grants from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) to update infrastructure, expand broadband and health care access, improve economic development opportunities and more in communities across Western Kentucky.

   The investments will fund 11 projects that will create or retain 80 jobs, provide workforce training for 433 Kentuckians and will improve the lives of 32,400 families.

   “These 11 projects will make a great difference for infrastructure, economic development, health care and education, which are all priorities as we build a brighter, better Kentucky,” the Governor said. “We are grateful to the local leaders who made these projects possible and for DRA’s continued investment in Kentucky.”

   The grants will fund projects in Fulton, Henderson, Hopkins, Logan and Todd, Trigg and Webster counties, as well as in Elkton, Greenville, Henderson, Madisonville and Paducah.

   For more information and to view the full news release, click here.

4. Mask Up Kentucky
   Gov. Beshear also stressed the continued importance of everyone wearing face coverings, calling it the single most important thing all of us can do to fight COVID-19.

   “This is our greatest and most important tool for getting back to everything we want to do,” the Governor said. “Do the right thing: Mask up.”

   He also encouraged Kentuckians to spread the word on social media using #MaskUpKY and #MaskUpKentucky hashtags.

Case Information – Monday, Sept. 21
As of 4 p.m. Sept. 21, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 61,917 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 406 of which were newly reported Monday. Sixty-seven of the newly reported cases were from children ages 18 and younger, of which nine were children ages 5 and under. The youngest was only five months old.

 “Last week, we had our second-highest number of cases by week,” the Governor said. “We really want to see this overall number of cases come down. Our positivity rate is going down, which is great news. But those overall numbers are too high. We’ve got to do what it takes to have fewer new weekly cases.”

Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear reported one new death Monday, raising the total to 1,112 Kentuckians lost to the virus.

The death reported Monday was a 77-year-old woman from Scott County.

“Thankfully, today we only have one new death to announce,” the Governor said. “But her family is going to be missing her. Let’s light our homes up green and ring those bells just as much when we lose one individual.”

As of Monday, there have been at least 1,131,075 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate was 3.77%, and at least 11,283 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.

For additional information, including up-to-date lists of positive cases and deaths, as well as breakdowns of coronavirus infections by county, race and ethnicity, click here. To see all recent daily reports, click here.

Information about COVID-19 and schools is also being made available. To view the reports, click here for K-12 and here for colleges and universities.

Case Information – Sunday, Sept. 20
Due to limited reporting on the weekends, some updated information is now available from Sunday, Sept. 20.

As of Sunday, there were 1,126,235 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate was at 3.62% and at least 11,259 Kentuckians had recovered from the virus.

For a detailed look at coronavirus case information from Sunday, Sept. 20, click here.

Lost Wages Assistance
Gov. Beshear announced Monday that Kentucky has applied for three more weeks of Lost Wages Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Each week will be paid separately.

“Today, we have applied for three additional weeks of unemployment insurance coverage of the extra $400 a week for those that qualify,” said Gov. Beshear. “If accepted by the federal government, those that qualify for those additional dollars will receive their $400 extra for the weeks of Aug. 22, Aug. 29 and Sept. 5.”

Eligibility criteria for the program:

• Individuals who receive at least $100 per week in unemployment insurance compensation for each week covered by FEMA’s Lost Wages Assistance program; and
• Individuals who have self-certified that they are unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Testing Guidance
Today, Gov. Beshear spoke about changes in the testing guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that has caused some confusion.

“If you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, you ought to get tested. The CDC has changed their website to stress this again,” the Governor said. “We’ve been providing this guidance the whole time. If you have been exposed, make sure that you get tested.”

To view the CDC’s testing guidance, click here.

Gov. Beshear also continued to encourage Kentuckians to take advantage of the nearly 260 testing locations throughout the commonwealth.

“There are testing locations everywhere,” he said. “Make sure you are getting tested regularly.”

For more information or to find a testing site, click here.

Long-term Care Facilities
Eric Friedlander, secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, provided an update Monday on the state’s long-term care facilities following new guidance from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

“To save lives, Gov. Beshear took decisive, swift action in March, issuing an executive order, stopping most visitation in long-term care facilities,” Secretary Friedlander said. “Actions were also taken from the Office of the Inspector General to curb residents’ exposure to the coronavirus. This included limiting providers’, volunteers’, suppliers’ and vendors’ presence in the facilities and aligning residents with a limited number of caregivers.”

He noted that months of fighting the coronavirus have been difficult for residents, employees and friends and families of people residing in our long-term care facilities.

“New guidance is allowing the use of the same COVID-19 county positivity rate information that school districts are using to determine whether in-person learning is recommended,” Secretary Friedlander said. “Long-term care facilities are also using this data to determine the degree to which indoor visitation can take place. As long as no new cases have been confirmed in the previous two weeks, visitation can be expanded to more than end-of-life visits.”

He said restrictions on physical touching and communal dining will be eased, while robust testing of staffers, providers and vendors will continue.

Secretary Friedlander said CMS also has approved use of Civil Monetary Penalty funds to purchase tents for outdoor visitation and/or clear dividers to create physical barriers to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus.

“We will continue to monitor this situation closely, as the national case count for COVID-19 is increasing,” Secretary Friedlander said. “With schools reopening and more people mixing, Kentucky may also see an increase.”

More Information
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Kentuckians can also access translated COVID-19 information and summaries of the Governor’s news conferences at teamkentuckytranslations.com.

Monday, Sept. 21, 2020
From Lake Cumberland District Health Department:

Click to view question and answers
LCDHD Media Q & A 09.16.2020