COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky

COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky
Members of the Kentucky National Guard assist in providing medical supplies
Map of the outbreak in Kentucky by confirmed new infections per 100,000 people over 14 days; (click to see date updated)   1,000+   500–1,000   200–500   100–200   50–100   20–50   10–20   0–10   No confirmed new cases or no/bad data
Map of the outbreak in Kentucky by confirmed total infections per 100,000 people (click on map for date of update)   10,000+   3,000–10,000   1,000–3,000   300–1,000   100–300   30–100   0–30   No confirmed infected or no data
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	Kentucky, U.S.
Index case	Lexington
Arrival date	March 6, 2020
Confirmed cases	227,218
Suspected cases‡	4,494
Hospitalized cases	1,788 (current) 4,652 (cumulative)
Critical cases	138 (current) 1,396 (cumulative)
Recovered	32,234
Deaths	7,517
Government website
govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19
‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed by laboratory tests as being due to this strain, although some other strains may have been ruled out.

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the U.S. state of Kentucky on March 6, 2020, when Governor Andy Beshear's office announced the first confirmed case in Cynthiana and declared a state of emergency to ensure all entities have the necessary response resources. Four of the first 22 confirmed cases in the state originated amongst a group of friends skiing in Vail, Colorado prior to any cases being reported there and then returning to Kentucky on March 1, 2020. Several others on the trip and their families may have been infected but were unable to be tested at the time due to extremely limited statewide testing. As of February 8, 2021, 381,271 cumulative cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, with 4,224 deaths.^[1]

The Kentucky government announced a series of restrictions and recommendations in order to help curb the spread of the disease. Schools, universities, and a range of businesses were broadly closed to the public. Public sporting events were closed or postponed, including the 2020 Kentucky Derby.

A range of initiatives was put into place, many by executive order, including broader leeway for pharmacists, relaxing of standards for unemployment insurance, extensions of Kentucky drivers licenses, the curtailing of non-essential police services in some areas, and moratoriums on evictions and utility shut-offs.^[2]

As of June 22, 2021, 2,136,635 Kentuckians have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, equivalent to 49% of the population.^[3]

Prevalence[]

The Kentucky government announced on March 6, 2020 that the state had seen its first confirmed case of the virus, in the city of Lexington. The individual had been placed in isolation in an unidentified medical facility (later identified as the University of Kentucky's Albert B. Chandler Hospital).^[4][5] On the same day a state of emergency was declared.^[4] One resident of Nelson County was forced into isolation when they refused to self-isolate after testing positive for the virus.^[6]

In a press conference on March 17, Governor Andy Beshear advised that the first case in Western Kentucky had been confirmed in Lyon County, and one woman had been removed from the list, after it was discovered that she had used a Kentucky address, but was actually a resident of New York.^[7] By the same day, around 380 test had been administered in the state in total, with five counties having administrated 15 tests or more.^[8] The highest rates of both testing and confined cases were in areas around the urban centers of Louisville and Lexington.^[8]

As of March 18, one of the first two patients to test positive for the virus, a 56-year-old man from Montgomery County, had fully recovered and was released from isolation.^[9] A total of 35 cases were confirmed, and 489 test had been administered statewide.^[8] Among these were an eight-month-old from Jefferson County, reported in good condition and being treated at home.^[10]

Students arriving for in-person classes at the University of Kentucky were tested, with 254 positive results. As of September 2, there were 760 coronavirus cases among University of Kentucky students.^[11]

Impact[]

As of March 16, Governor Beshear announced that all bars and restaurants would close to dining.^[12] The same day Beshear also announced amendments to the state's unemployment insurance requirements, waiving the seven-day waiting period and requirement for workers to actively seek employment.^[13] Plans were announced to implement state laws against price gouging via executive order.^[4]

Schools and child care facilities were closed statewide.^[14] The University of Kentucky suspended in-person classes for the entirety of the spring semester.^[15]

The electricity providers Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas & Electric announced it would suspend shut-offs and waive late fees until May 1, 2020.^[14][16]

All public facing businesses that encourage public congregation and which cannot comply with the CDC's social distancing guidelines were ordered closed as of March 17.^[7] Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer ordered the closure of playgrounds, basketball courts and soccer fields in Louisville's 120 parks on March 24.^[17]

Government[]

The government announced on March 16 it has applied to the U.S. Small Business Administration for assistance related to the impacts to small businesses. A three-month extension for state drivers licenses was enacted.^[14] The state's primary elections were suspended until June 23, 2020.^[14]

As of March 11, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. suspended most state court hearings for one month. Federal court hearings had elsewhere been suspended by Danny C. Reeves, Chief U.S. District Judge.^[18] Leaders from the Kentucky General Assembly announced that the 2020 session would continue despite warnings about gathering in large groups. In-person meetings with legislators would be restricted only to essential contacts.^[14]

A spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Housing Authority advised that they would suspend evictions and set outs.^[14] The Louisville Metro Police Department announced they would no longer be responding to certain calls, including hit-and-run, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.^[19] The Lexington Fire Department enacted a number of steps, including restricting public access to stations, but were still responding to all emergency calls.^[20] State Child Protective Services workers were ordered to limit contact with families except in cases of "imminent risk or high risk-only circumstances".^[21]

Due to the large number of people filing new claims, the state's system for registering workers for unemployment insurance crashed as of March 17 and remained down as of March 18.^[7]

As of March 18, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet closed all Real ID stations in addition to "all circuit court clerk offices, Kentucky licensing regional field offices, cabinet one-stop shop and cabinet district highway, administrative, maintenance and equipment offices."^[22]

As of March 22, there were 103 confirmed cases. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul announced he had tested positive for the virus.^[23]

Mayor Greg Fischer of Louisville ordered the closure of playgrounds, basketball courts and soccer fields in the city's parks on March 24.^[17]

Due to a surge of cases in Alabama the Kentucky State Government is advising all travelers from the state to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.^[24]

Healthcare[]

On March 17 an executive order was announced allowing pharmacists to issue prescriptions for 30 days if they cannot contact a patient's doctor. It also allowed pharmacists to set up and conduct business in areas not covered by the normal permitting process, to increase the ease and availability of mobile operations.^[25] Blood donations were substantially impacted as scheduled blood drives were cancelled and the public took measures to avoid public spaces.^[26] Adult daycare centers were ordered closed as of March 17.^[7]

Religion[]

Initially, religious leaders were upset when Governor Beshear called for all religious services to be halted on March 11, 2020.^[27] However, many followed the guideline on Sunday the 14th with even more following by the following Sunday. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington suspended public masses from March 20 until further notice.^[28]

By April 4, two churches in Hopkins County had been linked to an outbreak with over 50 cases and 4 deaths.^[29]

On Easter 2020, Beshear had the Kentucky State Police show up to churches who defied his order banning mass gatherings, including religious services.^[30] This ban on religious services was eventually struck down by the courts.^[31]

Sports[]

In college sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.^[32] On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons.^[33]

The running of the Kentucky Derby, normally scheduled for the first Saturday in May, was postponed until September. This was the first time in 75 years that the race was rescheduled.^[34]

NASCAR held their races at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta as planned on July 9–12 the Xfinity series gained an additional race there for the first since 2017 that there would a second race at the track for the Xfinity Series, all events were closed behind doors.

Governor's Daily Address[]

Governor Beshear has a daily public address at 5:00 pm EDT on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor is joined regularly by an ASL interpreter, Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing Executive Director Virginia Moore, and Dr. Steven Stack, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Public Health. The Governor has come up with several hashtags he wants Kentuckians to use: #TeamKentucky, #TogetherKy, #HealthyatHome, and #Patriot.^[35] Some of the common phrases that the Governor uses during these addresses can be purchased on various items to help raise money for Team Kentucky fund started by the Governor to help those who have been hurt financially by the pandemic.^[36] The Governor also asks people to light up their house green whenever there are coronavirus deaths in the state that day to honor those that are lost. As part of this, Beshear has ordered the Governor's Mansion and the State Capitol dome illuminated in green on those nights.^[37]

Public response[]

Compliance with the Governor's order to wear masks was reported as a "mixed bag" in Louisville.^[38] One store in Kentucky denied entry to customers wearing masks.^[39][40]

Protests against the Governor's restrictions began in March 2020 with opposition hanging an effigy of Andy Beshear on March 24.^[41]

Lifting of restrictions[]

On June 11, 2021, Governor Beshear issued an executive order lifting most coronavirus restrictions throughout Kentucky. This included all capacity restrictions, Healthy at Work requirements as well as the statewide mask mandate in most cases. Masks will still be required on public transportation as well as in healthcare and long-term care facilities. In addition, masks wearing remains recommended in correctional facilities and homeless shelters as well as by anyone who is has a compromised immune system, is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous ten days.^[42] Private businesses will also retain the right to require mask wearing in their facilities or on their property.^[43]

Statistics[]

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (December 2020)

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COVID-19 pandemic medical cases in Kentucky by county

County [a]	Cases [b]	Deaths	Pop.	Cases / 100k	Ref. & Notes
120 of 120	452,821	6,662	4,582,040	1,063.2
Adair	1,898	54	19,556	25.3
Allen	2,080	40	21,054	2.0
Anderson	1,747	22	23,041	6.9
Ballard	403	9	8,142	3.6
Barren	4,460	92	44,442	3.9
Bath	1,002	22	12,585	13.7
Bell	3,112	54	29,172	9.3
Boone	13,999	124	132,434	6.7
Bourbon	1,699	18	20,592	8.7
Boyd	5,002	74	48,304	11.3
Boyle	3,445	70	30,238	7.1
Bracken	640	7	8,496	13.8
Breathitt	1,028	9	14,114	2.3
Breckinridge	1,287	16	20,983	8.4
Bullitt	7,284	75	82,411	8.9
Butler	1,466	24	13,065	8.9
Caldwell	1,453	31	12,658	3.4
Calloway	3,525	51	39,140	2.6
Campbell	8,489	70	95,768	1.5
Carlisle	476	9	4,930	0.0
Carroll	1,013	19	11,065	4.0
Carter	2,288	35	28,094	4.8
Casey	1,424	35	16,029	20.3
Christian	6,947	104	77,114	6.1
Clark	2,914	29	37,037	5.5
Clay	2,675	44	20,754	2.9
Clinton	1,446	31	10,371	2.8
Crittenden	669	21	9,114	1.6
Cumberland	699	10	6,949	0.0
Daviess	10,814	185	102,392	9.9
Edmonson	914	23	12,807	2.4
Elliott	962	2	8,217	5.7
Estill	1,120	11	14,655	23.3
Fayette	35,854	304	325,520	7.4	[c]
Fleming	1,200	24	14,368	7.8
Floyd	3,426	69	44,077	4.4
Franklin	4,071	47	51,531	7.3
Fulton	527	14	6,514	14.4
Gallatin	699	30	8,970	3.2
Garrard	1,534	35	17,517	7.3
Grant	2,321	19	25,676	9.1
Graves	4,206	93	36,820	6.9
Grayson	2,167	55	26,716	10.8
Green	1,223	16	11,282	6.5
Greenup	3,621	59	36,406	9.0
Hancock	888	15	8,942	13.1
Hardin	9,751	157	112,050	8.0
Harlan	2,843	83	31,332	9.9
Harrison	1,706	23	19,271	3.8
Hart	1,994	47	19,148	15.8
Henderson	4,843	74	45,698	18.6
Henry	1,363	13	16,387	2.7
Hickman	389	10	4,633	3.3
Hopkins	4,505	146	46,270	10.9
Jackson	1,317	32	13,976	6.4
Jefferson	81,032	1,196	778,244	9.7	[d]
Jessamine	4,680	64	54,637	10.0
Johnson	1,985	35	24,955	10.3
Kenton	16,389	176	168,539	3.8
Knott	1,144	23	16,471	1.0
Knox	3,317	37	32,834	11.5
LaRue	1,336	26	14,681	15.9
Laurel	6,722	71	60,891	8.9
Lawrence	1,455	25	15,940	10.3
Lee	1,283	26	7,305	11.6
Leslie	920	8	11,890	8.7
Letcher	1,917	44	25,831	2.7
Lewis	1,340	35	14,552	21.5
Lincoln	2,349	50	25,112	7.0
Livingston	854	20	9,454	7.8
Logan	2,860	66	27,738	9.5
Lyon	1,538	19	8,412	12.2
Madison	9,363	109	92,453	6.0
Magoffin	973	15	14,644	4.7
Marion	2,332	38	19,716	10.4
Marshall	2,810	57	32,557	6.4
Martin	1,033	20	12,151	6.4
Mason	1,700	36	17,620	11.7
McCracken	6,700	123	66,704	7.4
McCreary	2,011	32	19,246	12.4
McLean	886	27	9,815	6.2
Meade	2,039	25	29,263	6.0
Menifee	478	17	6,559	0.0
Mercer	2,574	50	22,148	12.4
Metcalfe	1,047	26	10,337	11.3
Monroe	1,336	42	10,856	4.0
Montgomery	2,748	30	28,162	19.3
Morgan	2,269	3	13,714	16.1
Muhlenberg	2,965	65	31,018	11.7
Nelson	4,929	57	46,738	6.2
Nicholas	554	8	7,258	7.9
Ohio	2,475	54	24,597	8.3
Oldham	7,643	82	67,892	7.7
Owen	694	13	11,178	21.0
Owsley	496	15	4,724	3.2
Pendleton	1,031	5	15,024	5.9
Perry	2,666	66	30,914	7.2
Pike	5,587	98	68,341	7.2
Powell	1,306	12	12,661	15.0
Pulaski	6,461	99	65,166	12.8
Robertson	230	14	2,230	13.6
Rockcastle	1,554	23	16,967	27.4
Rowan	2,247	20	25,007	7.6
Russell	1,877	44	18,323	10.4
Scott	5,012	33	57,532	7.5
Shelby	4,767	70	48,584	13.7
Simpson	2,119	38	18,443	4.6
Spencer	1,609	23	19,128	5.2
Taylor	3,162	48	25,556	18.8
Todd	1,148	26	12,732	10.5
Trigg	1,306	14	14,886	1.0
Trimble	692	7	8,637	3.4
Union	1,372	15	14,734	19.9
Warren	16,028	171	133,362	9.7
Washington	1,444	37	12,243	5.9
Wayne	2,216	47	20,734	4.2
Webster	1,288	20	13,480	38.6
Whitley	5,007	57	37,059	11.4
Wolfe	532	5	7,468	2.0
Woodford	2,147	20	27,166	6.4
Unconfirmed	0	0
Updated Aug 15, 2020 Data is publicly reported by Kentucky Department of Public Health[44][45]
^ County where individuals with a positive case diagnosed, not where they were reside. Location of original infection may vary. ^ Reported cases includes presumptive and confirmed case. Actual case numbers are probably higher. ^ Consolidated city-county; Lexington-Fayette Urban County ^ Consolidated city-county; Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government

See also[]

• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
• COVID-19 pandemic in the United States – for impact on the country
• COVID-19 pandemic – for impact on other countries
• Misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic