Posted on 04/17/2020 12:40:34 PM PDT by mmichaels1970
Gov. Andy Beshear says it’s unlikely that Kentucky will begin easing coronavirus crowd restrictions and business closures starting May 1, as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said would happen in his state.
At Thursday’s briefing, Beshear said that the state is looking at several different metrics for how to determine when it’s safe to start opening Kentucky’s economy up, but that May 1 “is a hard day to hit.”
“It’s really gradual and phased in, every plan we see out there,” Beshear said. “Late May or June, we hope there are certainly some things Kentuckians will be able to be doing again.”
Beshear’s response comes after he announced that Kentucky will be coordinating its coronavirus response with six other states—Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Beshear said that it will ultimately be up to each individual state to ease coronavirus restrictions, but that they will be sharing best practices and trying to coordinate responses.
But he also said that coronavirus is still on an upward trajectory in Kentucky, and that reopening businesses and allowing people to gather could lead to a rapid spread.
“There’s only going to be new normal until we have a vaccine,” Beshear said.
Public officials are facing mounting pressure to allow businesses to reopen, despite recommendations from public health experts.
On Wednesday, several protesters had gathered outside the Capitol where Beshear was holding his daily press briefing to call for him to ease restrictions.
Steven Stack, Kentucky’s public health commissioner, said that he respected the protesters’ opinions, but they were putting people at risk by gathering.
“The mass gathering that happened yesterday is exactly the kind of mass gathering that we have public health orders that say are prohibited right now,” Stack said.
“The virus is so incredibly contagious, one person can infect multiple people who then take the virus somewhere else and infect other people.”
Beshear also announced that Kentucky will expand drive-thru coronavirus testing at Kroger locations next week, opening up sites in Madisonville, Paducah, Pikeville and Somerset.
The sites will be open Tuesday through Thursday, with the goal of conducting about 1,000 tests at each location over the course of those three days.
Beshear announced 159 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, for a total of 2,429. One of the new cases includes a 10 day old baby from Lincoln County.
There were 7 new Kentucky coronavirus deaths on Thursday, for a total of 129.
Elections have consequences.
Dem fascists showing their true colors.
Rock Frankfort. Then see what he says.
Heh, watch the pressure build on dimbulbcrat govs as their poor supressed populations watch more fortunate (and intelligent) states that have Repub govs release their inhabitants from Germany like restrictions.
That is true. But he was who the voters of Kentucky wanted. They had a choice and they chose him.
How this clown was elected is beyond me.
need a poll on buyers remorse with these tyrannical govenors
The Democrat governors, in Kentucky and elsewhere, have made a gamble that voters will not remember their overreach in November 2022. So are RINO governors in states like Ohio and Maryland.
‘New normal’...who coined that phrase?
All Counties in Ky. are in the same boat?
How did this jagoff get elected in a normally sensible state like Kentucky?
“Late May or June, we hope there are certainly some things Kentuckians will be able to be doing again.”
I don’t think this will play well once other states start opening up. But, hey, this is what they voted for.
More than 60% of the businesses in Kentucky will be bankrupt by then. What an asshole!
Hogan’s term limited and will remain until 2022. While I’m not crazy about him, he’s as good as it will ever get for MD. I dread what comes after him.
The DNC word has gone out. The rat states will stay locked down. Keep the economy crushed through May it will be so shattered no way it recovers before November. The only thing that stops this plan is for the GOP Governors to open up at least to phase one by months end. This is a civil war.
Damn teacher unions and dems in Lexington and Louisville stole that election. Trust me, we will not be shut down until June. Republicans control both houses (just overrode this prick’s veto of a voter ID law), and all state wide offices. The people of Kentucky will take it into our own hands if he doesn’t release us in the next 2 or 3 weeks.
A lot of DemoRat gov’s will be on the unemployment line come next election.
I’m from KY and will only say this, there are THREE groups of people you don’t jack with in this state....the TEACHERS (as FORMER Gov. Bevin found out), the PREACHERS (Church folk) and the SHOOTERS (Gun lovers)
Bevin found out what the consequences are of “messing” with the TEACHERS, I guess Beshear (or Sheriff Andy as we refer to him)is going to find out how VOCAL the other two groups are - after our FIRST protest earlier this week during his daily press conference (or mini-sermonette chastising us deplorables)was able to be HEARD in the room he was having his daily beat down, his response to what he referred to as “the NOISE from outside” being the people of KY, was to barricade the capitol, and SOUND SHIELD the room so the “NOISE” would no longer be a problem - Being that we have a SUPER Majority of R’s in both the House and Senate and have overridden 5 of his “veto’s” just this week - perhaps he may find out that the PREACHER and SHOOTER groups might not JUST be “noise” - but I’m not overly optimistic
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