FRANKFORT, Ky. — As Kentucky hit the highest single-day death toll from COVID-19 Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear praised Kentuckians for not letting the coronavirus claim even more lives.

“We beat every prediction. The actions of our people, your actions, saved thousands of lives. For that, I will always be eternally grateful,” Beshear said. “And this summer, when cases started increasing at alarming levels, you did it again, ensuring that we were not the next Florida, where over 10,000 people have now lost their lives. None of you chose this fight, but you have showed up to battle.”

But the fight isn’t over yet, and Beshear wants people to follow the same rules he has been recommending for months like wearing masks, hand washing, social distancing, and limiting travel.

“We are asking so little,” Beshear said. “Just small but powerful actions that may save somebody’s life.”

Beshear said that’s especially true as we move into the fall and winter, when other illnesses like the flu become a bigger problem.

“If we’re going to keep moving forward to build that brighter, better Kentucky, now is the time,” Beshear said. “While this virus physically separates us, we cannot let it drive us apart. As a team, Team Kentucky, we cannot give up.”

Beshear says he’ll continue working to address problems, like racial inequality, that have been magnified by the pandemic.

He also plans to have more information to help families as kids return to in-person classes.