FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday updated Kentuckians on the state’s continuing efforts to fight the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
The Governor and Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, also advised Kentuckians on how to celebrate Halloween safely this year.
“We have put together the best guidance we can for Halloween to be safe. But we can’t do things exactly like we did them before, and we all ought to know that,” said Gov. Beshear. “Having a big party right now during COVID puts everybody at risk. Let’s not ruin Halloween for our kids by it spreading a virus that can harm people they love.”
As of 4 p.m. Oct. 1, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 69,728 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 910 of which were newly reported Thursday. One hundred forty-six of the newly reported cases were from children ages 18 and younger, of which 26 were children ages 5 and under. The youngest was 3 months old.
“Our case numbers continue to be higher than any of us would like,” said Gov. Beshear. “I got a text from a friend that his father had died of COVID. Anybody who wants to suggest this isn’t real ought to talk to him.”
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear reported 17 new deaths Thursday, raising the total to 1,191 Kentuckians lost to the virus.
The deaths reported Thursday include a 63-year-old woman from Boyd County; a 72-year-old woman from Calloway County; two women, ages 29 and 67, from Clark County; an 84-year-old woman and two men, ages 71 and 76, from Jefferson County; a 92-year-old woman from Lewis County; a 94-year-old woman and a 88-year-old man from Mercer County; three women, ages 82, 93 and 95 from Scott County; and two women, ages 84 and 90, and two men, ages 76 and 85, from Warren County.
“Nine hundred and ten cases is hard, but today we’re reporting 17 deaths. That’s pretty sad when 17 is just the fifth highest day,” said Gov. Beshear. “By the end of the week we will probably hit 1,200. When we have a lot of cases, sadly a lot of death follows. There are 17 families who have been struggling before today, but today, let’s light our homes up green for them.”
Gov. Beshear urged people to look over and take to heart updated guidance on 10 Steps to Fight COVID-19.
As of Thursday, there have been at least 1,483,960 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate was 4.11%, and at least 11,970 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 also is being made available. To view the reports, click here for K-12 and here for colleges and universities.
Dr. Stack Update
Today, Gov. Beshear and Dr. Stack shared new guidance on how Kentucky families can celebrate Halloween safely.
“Let’s keep Halloween for the kids. Let’s all come together and make sure the kids can have a good, safe experience and have fun. This is not the year to have all the adult Halloween parties. Adult Halloween gatherings are not the same things as the kids’,” said Dr. Stack.
Kentuckians should wear masks, socially distance and wash hands often.
If trick-or-treating is permitted in your community, please trick-or-treat the safe way:
- Place individually wrapped candy outside on the porch, driveway or a table.
- Maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet from anyone not within your household.
- Always wear a face covering. Halloween masks DO NOT count as a face covering.
- Clean hands before and after touching the wrapped candy.
- Trick-or-treat in family groups and don’t congregate in large groups.
- Trick-or-treat in your own neighborhood. Do not travel to other neighborhoods.
- Use hand sanitizer often, especially after contacting frequently-touched surfaces and before eating anything.
To view all the guidance Halloween guidance, including recommended safer alternatives, high-risk activities to avoid and helpful reminders visit, https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/covid19/cv19halloweenguidance.pdf.
Dr. Stack also highlighted where Kentuckians can find the K-12 COVID-19 dashboard and how to use it.
“This is where schools are supposed to go every Monday through Friday when school is in session,” said Dr. Stack. “This is only day four of this being rolled out, and we already have 1,454 schools who have reported data. In the last 24 hours we had 1,348 schools who reported data. So, thank you. The vast majority of schools are trying to comply and doing the best they can.”
Finally, Gov. Beshear and Dr. Stack announced that KDPH has added Florida to the commonwealth’s travel advisory due to the especially high risk of contracting COVID-19 in the state.
“Despite the fact that its rate is below 15%, as we are now going into fall break in many schools, and Florida has lifted just about every restriction that’s out there. It is a subjective decision that right now, going to the beach with 100% capacity in a restaurant is just as dangerous as going to some of the other areas that may have a higher positivity rate but have taken steps to lower the risk,” said Gov. Beshear. “Also, Florida right now is without any real mask requirements. We can’t keep our schools open if people go to the beach and they bring it back, and it spreads throughout the school.”