FRANKFORT, Ky. — Governor Andy Beshear ordered all non-essential businesses to close by 8:00 pm Monday, March 23. In addition, he mandated all elective medical procedures stop immediately.

Entertainment, sporting goods, clothing, shoe, jewelry and furniture stores, florists, bookstores and auto dealers are among the business that must close. However, these retail businesses can still fill phone and online orders through curbside services or delivery.

“This is the next step that we need to take to reduce the contacts among Kentuckians until we can defeat this virus,” Beshear said. He said there is no need to rush to grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations that can remain open. “There is going to be enough of the essentials for everybody,” he said.

Beshear announced 103 confirmed cases and said Kentucky remains at three deaths related to COVID-19. More than 2,000 tests have been performed in Kentucky and of those tests, the average age of someone who has gotten the virus is 53.3 – and that the intensive care rate is about 6 percent. 

“It’s probably going to get tougher before it gets easier, but we are resilient people and we can and we will do this together,” Beshear said. “I fully agree with those who say this is the challenge of our generation. Some people refer to our grandparents’ generation as the greatest generation in coming together both abroad and at home to overcome an adversary. The one that we face is not like one we have seen in our lifetime. Instead of bringing us closer, it brings us further away physically. We know we are fighting for the most vulnerable among us. We are already proving we are willing to put the health and lives of our fellow Kentuckians above our economic interests.”

Beshear is holding daily updates at 5:00 pm (ET) and residents can watch them live on Spectrum News 1 and online on the governor's Facebook and YouTube pages. 

Beshear urged all Kentuckians to keep doing their part to help stop the spread, including following the new orders and to not gather in public and to follow social distancing by staying at least six feet apart from others.