KENTUCKY — After announcing new restrictions yesterday that will take effect Friday at 5 p.m., Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced 3,649 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky today, shattering the state's previous record high.
What You Need To Know
- 3,649 new COVID-19 cases in Kentucky, a record one-day high
- Second-deadliest day as 30 new deaths were reported
- Restrictions targeting bars, restaurants, and gyms take effect tomorrow at 5 p.m.
- Schools must cease all in-person instruction starting Monday, Nov. 23
The announcement was made during his daily COVID-19 media briefing, which have recently been exclusively livestreamed instead of held in-person due to the pandemic.
Beshear also reported 112 red zone counties in Kentucky, as well as the state's highest positivity rate since May — 9.18%. Kentucky has experienced a 400% increase in positive cases over the past nine weeks.
Thursday's record high case count brings the total to 148,390. Additionally, 1,742 Kentuckians have lost their lives due to COVID-19.
During his briefing, Beshear brought up the growing resistance to simple public health measures like mask wearing and social distancing.
"If you don't want to do it for me, do it for our veterans. Our most vulnerable," Beshear said. "They sacrificed so we can have these days on Earth, how about we make sure we don't cut short their days left on Earth."
Beshear also touched on the recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that discouraged travel and large, multi-household gatherings during Thanksgiving. Beshear's executive orders also advise against travel and large gatherings during Thanksgiving.
However, Beshear's order wasn't received well by everyone. During the briefing's Q&A portion, Beshear was asked to comment on Oldham County Attorney John Carter's viral Facebook post that bashed Beshear's orders, urging people to defy them by hosting large holiday gatherings.
"That is horrible advice that could mean the families that follow it don't have the same people for Christmas as they do for Thanksgiving," Beshear said. "To be so callous as to say 'get as many people into a room as you want that take of their masks and eat and drink?' That is frankly crazy, and it puts people at risk."
Now that 250,000 Americans — including 1,700 Kentuckians — have died due to COVID-19, Beshear said if action is not taken now, the losses will be even greater before the vaccines on the horizon become readily available.
Bryce Shreve is a digital producer with Spectrum News 1 KY. He is a recent graduate of Indiana University Southeast and joined the staff in November, 2020.