FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear (D) says he will announce new restrictions aimed at slowing the rise in coronavirus cases Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • New coronavirus restrictions coming Wednesday

  • Kentucky saw its third highest total of new cases today

  • 33 deaths Monday brings total deaths to 1,697

  • Governor said he needed to talk to affected groups and legislators before announcing any changes

“The house is on fire at this point,” Beshear said. “And we need everybody not to close their eyes, close their ears, and sit in the house while it burns in on them; we need everybody to join the bucket brigade and to do what it takes to address the crisis.”

The news comes after a record number of deaths Tuesday, 33, rising hospitalizations, and a steep increase in new cases over the last few weeks.

“There has to be a third intervention,” Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said. “To standby and not take some sort of action to try and interrupt this progression would be to leave ourselves open to substantial harm that we have reason to believe we can help to prevent.”

Beshear said Tuesday the measures will not be on the same level as actions taken in March and April and they will be more targeted in nature, reiterating points he made Monday.

He clarified Tuesday that the steps will be restrictions, not just recommendations.

“Asking nicely hasn’t gotten the results that we need,” Beshear said. “We got to take some strong action to save lives, but I think people will see that those actions are targeted. And our hope is that it will provide as little disruption as possible, but we have got to accept the level of disruption necessary to stop the escalation of the virus.”

Before the announcement Wednesday, Beshear said he will talk with affected groups and legislators to make sure they’re briefed on the changes. The governor also said he’s working on a program to help the people impacted by Wednesday’s announcement.

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