FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky will ease restrictions on child care services.

Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced a series of steps Monday, including the expansion of classes at child care facilities to 15 kids per group.

“We know we’re at a plateau,” Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander said. “We’ve seen our positivity rate begin to decline. We think that this is an important step as we have all learned together the best way to cohort.”

Kentucky will also help with background checks on child care providers and provide a $2,500 bonus to help new providers get going.

Beshear says the eased restrictions will also mean more enforcement of rules to keep children safe, like wearing masks and ensuring proper hygiene.

“It’ll mean that they are monitored at least by a state organization to ensure the kids are not neglected, and a safe environment is there,” Beshear said.

One hundred and sixty-eight different child care facilities in Kentucky have reported cases of the coronavirus, with 134 staff members and 107 children contracting the virus as of Monday’s report.

“It’s not just that we’re worried about a child having harm in the daycare center, it’s going back to grandmother and grandad or mom and dad,” Beshear said.

The rules won’t impact parents that bring children together in small groups to help with virtual learning, as long as they’re not charging anyone.

Beshear says he’ll consider pulling the restrictions back even more if the positivity rate keeps dropping, and there aren’t any major outbreaks.