FRANKFORT, Ky. — Tuesday marked yet another day where Kentucky reported more than 1,000 coronavirus cases.
Gov. Andy Beshear reported 1,054 new cases Tuesday, and he said if cases continue to rise, the state will crack down harder on people who don’t follow the rules.
“We saw with the last escalation that we have the power to stop it if we simply do what we know works, and that is wearing a mask, engaging in social distancing,” Beshear said.
Beshear renewed a mandate requiring masks in many public spaces Tuesday.
He also said the state plans on sending inspectors from multiple state agencies to make sure restrictions are followed and local governments will likely help.
Businesses may face fines or closures if they don’t comply, but Beshear said they just need to focus on turning away customers who don’t wear masks.
“Again, I know that’s a hardship on some businesses that are going to have some people that are angry, but it’s not the business's fault. I put the mask mandate in, all they’re doing is enforcing it,” Beshear said. “And they can tell that individual that they need to do that to protect their business, but we need that to happen because if we keep shooting up, if 6,000 cases (per week) is just a middle point to where we are going, those businesses aren’t going to have anybody left in them.”
Kentucky reported 6,126 cases last week, the most cases the state has reported in a single week.
This all comes as President Donald Trump announces he won’t negotiate a new coronavirus relief package with Congress until after the election.
Beshear said a delay in new aid would be devastating and far-reaching.
“If they can’t sit down and agree to a package that helps Kentuckians and helps Americans during this, shame on them, and I don’t even see the Senate engaging them in negotiations. Shame on them, too.
In Washington, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he agrees with the President’s stance on coronavirus negotiations.
“I think [the president’s] view was that they were not gonna produce a result, and we need to concentrate on what’s achievable,” McConnell said.
President Trump said he wants the Senate to focus on confirming his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett.