KY Has 2nd-Highest Single-Day Number of New Cases

Governor Beshear announced new statewide totals in the coronavirus pandemic on Saturday afternoon. 

Beshear said 583 cases were reported on Saturday, which is the second-highest single-day total in Kentucky since the pandemic began. Saturday's numbers bring the state total to 22,184 cases.  

"That means this is a dangerous time and it can't be explained away by our increase in tests," said Gov. Beshear. "We've got to be careful. We've got to make sure that we are wearing our facial coverings, because today's cases are a reflection of 14 days ago before we mandated those. This is what it's going to take if we want to save our economy and save lives and get our kids back in school, it's really that simple."

Beshear reported nine new deaths Saturday, raising the total to 667 Kentuckians lost to the virus.

The deaths reported Saturday include a 93-year-old woman from Jefferson County; three women, ages 78, 80 and 81, and two men, ages 83 and 96, from Logan County; an 88-year-old woman from Shelby County; a 64-year-old man from Simpson County; and a 76-year-old woman from Warren County.

As of Saturday, there have been at least 529,481 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate currently stands at 4.66%. 

"Consistency is incredibly important as we strive to avoid straining our health system," said Steven Stack, M.D., commissioner of the Department for Public Health. "Weekends offer additional opportunities to socialize and go out in public. If you do, practice Healthy at Home and Healthy at Work guidelines. Wear a face covering. Maintain a social distance of at least six feet from people outside your household. Wash your hands. And, if a contact tracer calls, please answer. These steps get us back to work, school and play."

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.