Testing expanded, economic reopening planning underway

Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday the expansion of a multistate economic planning cooperative and new drive-through testing locations in the fight against COVID-19.

Just yesterday, the Governor announced he was working with Govs. Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Mike DeWine of Ohio. Now four more governors – Tony Evers of Wisconsin, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan – are joining forces to closely coordinate plans to reopen the regional economies when the time is right.

“This is making sure that we are working with our neighbors and doing the right thing by our neighbors,” Gov. Beshear said. “While I always say we are in this together as Kentucky, we are now in this with some other states to make sure we are working together in our steps to phase in different parts of our economy.”

The Governor stressed that each leader ultimately would decide what is best for their state, but said the coordination will prevent new outbreaks of the coronavirus and would provide stability for business owners.

“While it will be the decision of each individual state the steps they take, this is going to help us both on the public health side and making sure that while it will be in a phased-in approach as we are opening up our economy we do it in a way where we can have that symbiotic bump,” Gov. Beshear said.

Drive-through testing expanded

One key to restarting business activity and paving the way back toward more normal activities is widespread testing. In a move toward that goal, Gov. Beshear announced Thursday an expansion of the state’s partnership with Kroger to provide drive-through testing for the coronavirus.

Testing has been underway this week in Franklin and Kenton counties. The Governor said four new sites would come online next week, in Madisonville, Paducah, Somerset and Pikeville.

“This is making sure we can serve all parts of the state,” he said. “We are one Kentucky, we are Team Kentucky and we’re making sure now that we can test in all of Kentucky.”

Testing at the new sites will be done from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. For location details or to register for a test, visit KROGERHEALTH.COM/COVIDTESTING.

“Kroger is committed to expanding our drive-through testing sites in other locations to provide this vital need to increase the health and wellness directly in our communities,” said Meegan Brown, National Health and Wellness TLC Director of Kroger Health.

Those eligible for the tests include people exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, shortness of breath and cough; health care workers and first responders who may have been exposed to coronavirus; and anyone with mild symptoms who also may have been exposed to COVID-19.

The testing is done free of charge. The overall goal of the partnership is to conduct 20,000 tests over the next five weeks. Test results are expected within approximately 48 hours.

Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, praised Kentucky company Gravity Diagnostics Labs for their work ramping up testing in the state.

“They have done wonderful and heroic work for us,” Dr. Stack said.

Gravity Diagnostics CEO Tony Remington hailed his employees’ hard work and said he was glad his company can be of help during a challenging time.

“I’m extremely honored and humbled to be part of the solution that’s facing all of us across the country, especially in Kentucky,” Remington said. “I’ve been amazingly impressed with the way the private sector and the government have come together at the city, county, state and federal levels.”

Low-acuity facilities

Gov. Beshear announced the opening of state facilities to house people ill with or who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Initially, the shelters will be available at Lake Barkley and Lake Cumberland state parks.

The program is a partnership with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and local health departments, the Kentucky Department of Parks, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Kentucky National Guard and volunteer medical staff.

The facilities will be made available to “low-acuity” patients or guests – those who can care for themselves with minimal medical intervention.

“These are not places we are going to put people who need significant care and significant monitoring,” the Governor said.

The shelters are being made available for people who need to be isolated but lack their own homes, cannot self-isolate within their homes or live with people at heightened risk of contracting the virus.

“Sometimes people don’t have a home or a home where they can be isolated from others,” Gov. Beshear said. “This provides an opportunity for a person to have a place to go so we are not spreading the virus.”

Case information
As of 5 p.m. April 16, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 2,429 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 159 of which were newly confirmed.

“That’s lower than we’ve had some other days and I know yesterday we had a lower amount,” the Governor said. “But we believe tomorrow is going to be one of the highest numbers we’ve seen, and part of that is bringing in some data that’s had to move through a couple of systems that will hit tomorrow.”

The Governor also said one of the new patients is a 10-day-old infant.

Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear also reported seven new deaths Thursday, raising the state’s toll to 129 deaths related to the virus.

“So let’s continue to send our thoughts and prayers out,” he said.

Gov. Beshear continued to encourage Kentuckians to light up their homes and businesses green for those we have lost as a sign of compassion and renewal.

The newly reported deaths include a 78-year-old woman in Adair County; a 67-year-old woman in Graves County; an 85-year-old woman in Jackson County; two women, ages 68 and 92, and a 79-year-old man in Jefferson County; and a 69-year-old woman from Shelby County.

At least 956 people have recovered from COVID-19 in Kentucky.

“That is really exciting,” Gov. Beshear said. “We’re thinking about all of those folks too.”

To date, at least 29,747 people have been tested. At least 971 people have ever been hospitalized with 477 currently hospitalized.

“One of the bright notes in all of this is how well our hospitals have done stabilizing people and getting them out early,” the Governor said. “It’s one of the things that make us feel much better about the ability of our health care capacity to handle a spike in cases.”

At least 506 have ever been in the ICU with at least 333 people currently in the ICU.

Gov. Beshear also offered an update on the racial breakdown of COVID-19 patients, which has been the subject of news stories across the country because of the disparity.

The Governor said with about 75% of the known cases accounted for, 80.12% of Kentuckians who tested positive were Caucasian, 11.75% were African-American, 4.99% were multiracial, 3.08% were Asian and 0.07% were Native American or Alaskan Native.

On fatalities attributed to the coronavirus, with about 81% of the known cases accounted for, Kentucky deaths are about 78.1% Caucasian, 20.95% African-American and 0.95% Asian.

“Again we see unequal access to health care. We are working on efforts that will include testing … specifically in our African-American communities in our two largest cities. We need to make sure we are directing resources where people are being hit hardest, and I want our African-American communities to know that we are committed,” Gov. Beshear said. “While we can’t immediately erase the wrongs of the past, we can do the best that we can to do the right thing in the present and moving into the future. I hope that out of this we can take the calling, the requirement to finally end some of these injustices.”

More information
The Governor is asking all Kentuckians to continue to fight the spread of the virus by following his 10-step guidance, which includes practicing social distancing and staying healthy at home. Gov. Beshear says these efforts have the potential to save the lives of as many as 11,000 Kentuckians.

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. Watch the Governor’s social media accounts at 5 p.m. ET each day for his regular briefing.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages people to follow these steps to prevent illness. Kentuckians who want advice can call the state hotline at 800-722-5725 or call their local health care provider.

Team Kentucky hashtags for social media
#TeamKentucky, #TogetherKY, #Patriot and #HealthyAtHome.