Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear warned citizens that cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are set to take a rise significantly in the coming weeks.
“Folks, this is real,” Beshear said in his 5 p.m. daily COVID-19 briefing on March 30. “I want everyone to start thinking about the fact that if they don’t follow the guidance, there is a real percentage chance that could result in real harm to another Kentuckian.”
Beshear announced that the state health care resources include 18,500 hospital beds, 1,300 ICU beds and 1,352 ventilators. He emphasized that these resources will be in high demand if proper social distancing guidelines are not respected.
With Kentucky’s current total at 591 known cases, Beshear signed an executive order on March 28 that all travel to Tennessee should be limited.
According to the statement, “Kentuckians can still go to Tennessee for work, to take care of a loved one or even buy groceries if it is closer, but the governor asks that unnecessary travel to Tennessee end.”
Beshear additionally ordered anyone who traveled out of state to self-quarantine for 14 days upon returning, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. He also warned golfers to practice social distancing or he’ll be forced to close courses.
“We are in crunch time. The next two to three weeks are pivotal,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack during a briefing.
Out of the total known cases, 110 are in the Lexington-Fayette County area and 206 are in the Jefferson County area.
Beshear has allowed essential businesses to remain open. These include grocery stores, drug stores, banks, hardware stores, agricultural operations and gas stations.
However, mayors are being asked to monitor parks and other outdoor recreation facilities amid fears that COVID-19 is spreading through overcrowded outdoor spaces.
On March 27, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton closed all athletic fields, golf courses and skate parks, as well as Raven Run and McConnell Springs hiking trails, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
“Since Lexington, Louisville, and Northern Kentucky are the largest concentrations of population in the state, what Lexington does will affect the entire state,” said Gorton.
In Louisville, Mayor Greg Fisher closed all Metro Parks playgrounds and athletic fields on March 24. The park areas remain open.
“We’re starting to see frightening increases here in the United States and in many of our states,” said Fisher. “We know this is real and that virus is trying to come for all of us.”
Beshear will continue to update Kentuckians at 5 p.m. every day on the current COVID-19 situation.