On Sunday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear let residents know that last week was the state’s biggest week ever for confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“With today’s 462 new positive cases of COVID-19, this last week has been our single largest week ever for new cases of COVID: 4,503. It brings our total number of cases to date to 48,032,” he said during a statement. “That means we have to do better. With this number of cases we see more people hospitalized, we see, sadly, more people being lost. So please wear your mask, please make good decisions. This is a time when this virus is spreading very aggressively.”
Saturday saw the fourth-highest day of confirmed cases in Kentucky since March 6 — 825 — but Beshear noted over the weekend that the state’s positivity rate is still below 5% at 4.59%.
And on Sunday, there were 462 newly reported coronavirus cases, 79 in children under the age of 18, including 13 under the age of 5.
“This being the single highest week for new cases: Do your best. We can’t be tired, we can’t give up,” Beshear said. “We have to bring it every week, because this virus is going to continue to take people we love. So, Mask Up Kentucky. Let’s beat COVID-19.”
As of Sunday, 930 Kentuckians had died of the virus.
Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, warned people to take extra precautions as several national and state holidays are approaching.
“What might be considered in Kentucky a ‘trifecta of holidays’ begins this coming Friday,” he said. “Enjoy watching the fillies on Oaks Day this Friday. Watch the Kentucky Derby, the 146th Run for the Roses, on Saturday. And, enjoy the entire Labor Day weekend. Just do it in ways that keep you and others safe.”
He advised Kentuckians to stay home as much as possible, practice social distancing when they go out, wash their hands often and wear a mask whenever they are near others.
Dr. Stack also noted the state saw a spike in confirmed COVID cases after celebrations that took place over Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.
“Then, the mask mandate went into effect and Kentuckians took extra care in social distancing and avoiding visits to other states known as ‘hot spots.’ This successfully plateaued our new weekly cases,” he said.
“If the running of the Oaks, the Kentucky Derby and Labor Day activities reflect other summer holidays, though, cases will spike again and Kentucky will have a setback to the progress we have made by working together. Please, let’s show we can learn from the other holidays. Let’s not slip and lose progress against our fight against the coronavirus.”
Find more information at kycovid19.ky.gov.
This article appears in The Burger Issue 2020.