FRANKFORT, Ky.
(AP) — In a preemptive action to prevent an Easter weekend acceleration
of the coronavirus crisis, Gov. Andy Beshear warned that anyone
attending in-person gatherings will be ordered into quarantine as he
announced another single-day high number of virus cases in Kentucky.
The
governor took the tougher step Friday against gatherings in his latest
attempt to contain the virus’s spread. The order applies to all mass
gatherings and not just worship services.
A handful of Kentucky pastors signaled in recent days that they intended to defy Beshear and continue in-person services. The governor has warned that churches should switch to virtual services or other ways for people to practice their faith and protect public health.
Under
the new tougher action, people seen participating in mass gatherings in
Kentucky this weekend will have their license plate numbers recorded by
authorities, who will provide the information to local health
departments, Beshear said. Health officials will contact each
participant and require them to go into quarantine for 14 days, he said.
Beshear described it as a matter of personal responsibility to avoid gatherings amid the pandemic.
“This
is the only way that we can ensure that your decision doesn’t kill
somebody else,” he said. “That your decision doesn’t spread the
coronavirus in your county and in your community.”
Beshear
praised faith leaders for adhering to his admonitions against in-person
worship services. But about a half-dozen churches statewide were still
considering in-person services, he said.
“If
you’re going to expose yourself to this virus, and you make that
decision to do it, it’s not fair to everybody else out that you might
spread it to,” he said at his daily briefing.
Beshear,
a deacon at his church, frequently talks about his own faith while
announcing another round of virus-related deaths or promoting
social-distancing guidelines.
“I have never been as sure of anything in my faith as I am in this: We must protect each other,” he said earlier this week.
Beshear
reported 242 more coronavirus cases statewide Friday, raising the total
to nearly 1,700 since the outbreak began. Eleven more virus-related
deaths brought Kentucky’s death toll to 90.
Beshear, whose voice choked with emotion in announcing the latest deaths, warned “there are going to be tougher days than today” as he urged people to strictly follow social distancing.
The
state had 75 new coronavirus cases among residents and staff at nursing
homes or other long-term care facilities in the state, he said. The
virus has impacted nearly 30 such Kentucky facilities.
Most
people who contract COVID-19 have mild or moderate symptoms, which can
include fever and cough but also milder cases of pneumonia, sometimes
requiring hospitalization. The risk of death is greater for older adults
and people with other health problems.
At least 464 Kentucky residents have recovered from the virus, the governor said.
Beshear
also updated the state’s efforts to keep pace with the record-setting
numbers of Kentucky residents seeking unemployment benefits as the virus
causes widespread economic damage.
The
state made 71,625 separate payments totaling nearly $43 million on
Thursday, the governor said. The payments included the $600 unemployment
supplements from the federal government, he said.
More
than 275,000 Kentucky residents filed for unemployment benefits in the
previous three weeks as businesses are shuttered or scale back because
of the virus. The state has responded by dramatically increasing the
number of employees handling unemployment insurance claims.
“We will continue to work to increase our capacity,” the governor said Friday.
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Source: Mountain Top