Posted on 04/17/2020 12:40:34 PM PDT by mmichaels1970
Gov. Andy Beshear says it’s unlikely that Kentucky will begin easing coronavirus crowd restrictions and business closures starting May 1, as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said would happen in his state.
At Thursday’s briefing, Beshear said that the state is looking at several different metrics for how to determine when it’s safe to start opening Kentucky’s economy up, but that May 1 “is a hard day to hit.”
“It’s really gradual and phased in, every plan we see out there,” Beshear said. “Late May or June, we hope there are certainly some things Kentuckians will be able to be doing again.”
Beshear’s response comes after he announced that Kentucky will be coordinating its coronavirus response with six other states—Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Beshear said that it will ultimately be up to each individual state to ease coronavirus restrictions, but that they will be sharing best practices and trying to coordinate responses.
But he also said that coronavirus is still on an upward trajectory in Kentucky, and that reopening businesses and allowing people to gather could lead to a rapid spread.
“There’s only going to be new normal until we have a vaccine,” Beshear said.
Public officials are facing mounting pressure to allow businesses to reopen, despite recommendations from public health experts.
On Wednesday, several protesters had gathered outside the Capitol where Beshear was holding his daily press briefing to call for him to ease restrictions.
Steven Stack, Kentucky’s public health commissioner, said that he respected the protesters’ opinions, but they were putting people at risk by gathering.
“The mass gathering that happened yesterday is exactly the kind of mass gathering that we have public health orders that say are prohibited right now,” Stack said.
“The virus is so incredibly contagious, one person can infect multiple people who then take the virus somewhere else and infect other people.”
Beshear also announced that Kentucky will expand drive-thru coronavirus testing at Kroger locations next week, opening up sites in Madisonville, Paducah, Pikeville and Somerset.
The sites will be open Tuesday through Thursday, with the goal of conducting about 1,000 tests at each location over the course of those three days.
Beshear announced 159 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, for a total of 2,429. One of the new cases includes a 10 day old baby from Lincoln County.
There were 7 new Kentucky coronavirus deaths on Thursday, for a total of 129.
My impression on why they are taking this approach is that they know the media will do their dirty work by screaming about every single death after the reopen.
This then gives them the talking point that Trump and red states are reckless while HE or other democrats were concerned more about your safety. And it’ll work on a lot of people.
“the media will do their dirty work by screaming about every single death after the reopen.”
There is no doubt about it, that is why Trump had to get Dr Doom and Deborah’s sign off. It will give SOME cover. He will get that no matter if he opens tomorrow, 5/1 or 9/1 it is going to happen so he can still save the economy. The GOP Governors may not have the stones to do it. Abbot of Texas comes to mind.
I despise this corrupt SOB and his father.
He is a good example of the corrupt filth we get when voters worship political family dynasties.
My lack of faith in the thinking processes of the average American is again proved accurate.
Elect a democrat, live in a Nazi state.
Speaking of Nazis, wonder if Beshear knows #HeilHalfWit just caved...
I’m not seeing it. Their daily recovery seems to be tracking their daily new cases.
And if their numbers are accurate, they seem to be hanging at around 1500 active cases now, although I guess that might still be on a slight uptick.
Beshear will likely be the last governor to approve opening. He’s hard left, has his eye on taking over McConnell’s seat eventually. I’d say that states in the northeast will open before Kentucky.
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