FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky reported 1,163 cases of the coronavirus Wednesday, marking the largest number of reported cases ever in a day, and the first time Kentucky has surpassed a thousand cases in a day.
What You Need To Know
- Kentucky reports 1,163 coronavirus cases, new one-day high
- Beshear defends Sept. 28 start date for in-person classes
- Some Kentucky schools still plan to start in August face-to-face
- Beshear won't force schools to adhere unless there's an outbreak
“Today we set a record we didn’t want to set, and we never wanted to get over 1,000 cases,” Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said.
Beshear said the spike highlights why he doesn’t want schools to have in-person classes for the next month, especially since another 39 kids under five tested positive for the coronavirus.
“I don’t believe that we gamble or experiment with our kids,” Beshear said. “And while we are all desperate to get our kids back, I also want it to work.”
Catholic schools in Kentucky and some public schools plan to move forward with classes despite the Governor’s recommendation.
“I don’t think that they are intentionally making a decision, and I’m sure they don’t think, is unsafe,” Beshear said. “I think that there are good plans out there, but if the rate of how things are spreading and just the amount of COVID, especially right now in Fayette County with as large as it is, it can overwhelm even the best plan.”
Beshear said if districts decide to go ahead with in-person classes, they need to be considerate of teachers and staff.
“What’s the testing plan? I mean, if you’re going to go ahead when this thing is really hot, I hope that you have regular testing for teachers and students,” Beshear said.
Beshear said he has no plans to force schools to follow his recommendation, unless an outbreak occurs.