Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said today that Kentucky has confirmed at least three, but possibly as many as five, new cases of coronavirus COVID-19.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases in the state to at least 14.
Confusion over whether two reported cases from a lab at the University of Louisville were new or not caused the uncertainty over the total number, Beshear said.
The confirmed cases are almost certainly not the only ones, he said.
“Remember, we’re going to find more cases as we go,” Beshear said. “This was never going to be confined to three counties.”
Coronaviruses are a broad category of virus that cause the common cold, among other illnesses. COVID-19 is what scientists call a new, or “novel” form of the virus — one that hasn’t been encountered before and one which epidemiologists do not yet know how to combat.
The virus sometimes causes mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all. But it can also cause very acute respiratory illness that can require hospitalization and even lead to death — mostly among people who are over the age of 60 or who have chronic illness or compromised immune systems.
Roughly 80 percent of cases of the virus case no or mild symptoms; about 5 percent require hospitalization.
In countries like Iran and Italy, the virus has spread rapidly, overwhelming hospital capacity and causing the need for widespread quarantining.
Health experts have recommended personal behaviors like frequent handwashing, keeping six feet of distance between yourself and others and avoiding crowds as ways to halt the spread of the virus.
Beshear said Kentuckians should take those steps seriously, but shouldn’t take them as a cue to lock themselves away entirely.
“We need you to limit your social contacts and stay six feet apart, but that doesn’t mean you board yourself up in your home,” he said.
Beshear said the state doesn’t have the capacity to give a COVID-19 test to everyone who wants one yet. A limited supply of tests has meant only those who are exhibiting severe symptoms are getting them.
“It’s important on us that if we are well, we’re not pushing for that test,” he said. “I hope we can have that later.”
Beshear this week issued executive orders prohibiting price gouging and waiving copays, deductibles and fees for medical care. He also recommended canceling all schools for the time being, shuttered senior day centers (which will still provide meals to low-income seniors via drive-thrus or delivery) and ordered limitations on nursing home visitations.
During a news conference today, Beshear was asked about whether measures the state has taken to limit the virus’ spread are an overreaction.
“I would steer them to Seattle and the number of deaths there in senior centers,” Beshear said.
That city and the state of Washington as a whole has been the epicenter so far of the United States’ COVID-19 crisis, with 457 confirmed cases and 31 deaths as of today.
This article appears in Mar 4-17, 2020.