FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 14, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday updated Kentuckians on the state’s continuing efforts to fight the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in the commonwealth.
“In my core, I want to get our kids back in classes. I want to get my kids back in class,” said Gov. Beshear. “My job is to tell people when I don’t believe it’s safe even if it’s unpopular. It is my job to make sure I do the very best I can for Kentuckians.”
Case Information
As of 3:00pmCT on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020 Gov. Beshear said there were at least 38,298 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 679 of which were newly reported Friday. 22 of the newly reported cases were from children ages 5 and younger.
“Today we continue to see high numbers of COVID-19 cases,” said Gov. Beshear. “At best we are at a plateau thanks to people’s wearing of facial coverings and we still need more time to reach a decline to get this state in the place we really need to be to do so many activities that we want.”
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear reported 8 new deaths Friday, raising the total to 804 Kentuckians lost to the virus.
The deaths reported Friday include an 85-year-old woman from Bell County; an 85-year-old woman from Casey County; a 63-year-old woman from Christian County; two women, ages 82 and 92, from Franklin County; a 75-year-old woman from Hopkins County; an 83-year-old woman from Jefferson County; and a 77-year-old woman from Lewis County.
“Those are most likely moms, grandmothers, sisters, who people have lost,” said Gov. Beshear. “Aunts, loved ones. So let’s make sure that for them we are strong, we light those green lights and we ring those bells every day at 10 a.m.”
As of Friday, there have been at least 743,500 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate currently stands at 5.68%. At least 9,021 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.
Gov. Beshear, Secretary of State Adams Finalize Plan for Safe General Election
Today, Gov. Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams announced a bipartisan agreement to allow Kentuckians to exercise their right to vote in the November General Election while protecting their health during the ongoing global pandemic.
On Friday, Secretary Adams sent Gov. Beshear a formal letter of recommendation, and the Governor issued an Executive Order that outlines procedures for the state’s General Election, to be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
“Secretary Adams and I were able to put partisanship aside and develop a plan for the General Election that puts the health and safety of Kentuckians first,” Gov. Beshear said. “This plan provides more time and options to vote in this General Election than ever before.”
“Gov. Beshear and I worked together across the partisan divide to fashion election rules that are fair to every voter regardless of party,” Secretary Adams said. “We kept the best of what worked in the June primary, especially giving voters options to safely cast their votes, and we built on that record with improvements – more in-person voting locations and faster election results.”
To learn more, read the full release detailing their agreement.
Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation Approves $1.3 Million in Loans
The Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC) today approved $1,314,319 in seven agricultural loans for projects in the commonwealth at its board meeting.
“This is an area where we can lead the county but we’ve got to be innovative,” said Gov. Beshear. “We can’t just do things the way we’ve always done. This is an area where the next breakthroughs are going to be as important as in any other industry.”
To read more about each approved project, read the full release on KAFC’s board meeting.
Week in Review
To read more about this week’s updates, including those on school reopening, restaurants and bars, behavioral health care, the state budget, CARES Act funding for Area Development Districts, the virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony for Abandoned Mine Lands pilot projects, CARES Act reimbursements for local governments, Volunteer Kentucky, Dr. Stack’s guidance and groundbreaking ceremonies at the Pikeville Medical Center, visit governor.ky.gov/news.
More Information
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Kentuckians can also access translated COVID-19 information and daily summaries of the Governor’s news conference at teamkentuckytranslations.com.
