News cases still high, positive test rate tops 4.6%

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – The state reported another high number of new cases Wednesday, continuing a two-week trend.

And the state had 10 new deaths.

“I think about this journey that we’ve been on, going back to our first case reported on March 6. I remember us taking very aggressive action, and while our actions were working watching what happened in New York, with devastating loss and hospitals overrun. I remember how our story wasn’t that story, because we bought in, we accepted the actions that I had to take – not that I wanted to take – but that we had to take to protect human life,” Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday in a press release covering the latest numbers.

“And together, we flattened that curve,” the governor said. “But now what we see is that same thing that was happening in New York happening in areas like Florida and Arizona, with ICUs filled up, and Arizona is ordering freezer trucks because their morgues are full. And here in Kentucky we are in a new time of escalating cases.”

Dr. Steven Stack, the commissioner of the Department for Public Health, urged Kentuckians to remain on guard and resilient in the face of rising coronavirus cases in the commonwealth.

“The climbing number of positive cases is tough news,” said Dr. Stack. “This crisis remains an overwhelming challenge for all of us. The size of the impact on our lives and potential loss of human lives, however, is not outside our influence. Wear a face mask. Keep a social distance of at least six feet. Thoroughly wash your hands. Answer the call if a contact tracer reaches out to you. These steps will save lives and reduce further spread of this dangerous disease that has so terribly disrupted our lives.”

Beshear said the state now has a total of at least 20,677 coronavirus cases with 477 new cases reported Wednesday.

“It shows you how critical this facial covering requirement is,” Beshear said. “And we have to end the silliness. Challenges to this mean the loss of lives and could send us the way of Arizona or Florida, and we don’t want that.”

Unfortunately, Beshear reported 10 new deaths Wednesday, raising the total to 645 Kentuckians lost to the virus.

The deaths include a 73-year-old man and a 94-year-old woman from Casey County; a 90-year-old woman and a 96-year-old man from Fayette County; a 67-year-old man from Hardin County; two men, ages 70 and 73, and a 67-year-old woman from Jefferson County; an 88-year-old man from Laurel County; and a 71-year-old woman from Logan County.

As of Wednesday,state has confirmed at least 498,179 coronavirus tests performed. The positivity rate is back up to 4.62%, topping the high last week of 4.5 percent

At least 5,475 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.

Forinformation, including up-to-date lists of positive cases and deaths, as well as breakdowns of coronavirus infections by county, race and ethnicity, click here.