FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky made headlines Thursday for being one of only two states that appeared to be ready to reopen. That coverage appears to be short-lived.  

What You Need To Know


  • covidexitstrategy.org tracks each state's progress to reopen

  • Kentucky and North Dakota were briefly the only states prepared to reopen

  • Governor says he feels good about testing, but says numbers will fluctuate

The researchers behind the rankings at covidexitstrategy.org say testing numbers in Kentucky bounced around and now the average is below the White House target.  

Governor Andy Beshear (D) says Kentucky can test anyone now; it's just a matter of actually getting people tested.  

"But I feel good about our testing. I really do. Now we gotta do more, but we’re on the right trajectory."

Dozens of drive-through testing sites across the state have helped the effort.  

Beshear says there will be fluctuations.

"Numbers are going to bounce, so we may be green one day and yellow the next, which is what they show, but we believe that we are in as good of a position as anybody, but then we’re also doing this reopening in the smart way."

Beshear says as the state reopens, Kentucky will do more targeted testing in nursing homes, prisons, businesses, and churches.  

"When we need to do testing in hospitals that they’re going to do before they’re doing procedures, which they now do in phase 3, that’s going to go into it. So some of the testing is going to become more natural."

Covidexitstrategy.org is a new daily report on how states are doing with reopening goals compiled by former Obama and Trump administration officials.  

North Dakota was the only other state to appear ready, but it fell off Friday due to an increase in positive tests.  

The website says states are expected to fluctuate as they navigate the crisis— but what’s key is preserving the progress they’ve made.  

One of the blind spots in the site's ratings is contact tracing.  

Governor Beshear says he’ll have more details on the state’s strategy Monday, but he did say contract tracing requires people to buy in so health officials can contain the spread.