Hopkins County has become the first western Kentucky county to issue a juvenile curfew to improve social distancing and decrease the spread of the COVID-19 virus that claimed its third death in the county Thursday.
Judge-executive Jack Whitfield said the curfew was issued by executive order after consulting with health department officials, health care officials, and law enforcement.
The curfew says those 18 and younger can’t be in public between 8pm and 6am unless they are with their parent or guardian or on their way to or coming from work.
Groups of 10 or more people congregating in any public place are also prohibited with the exception of a grocery store or unassociated people in a public park.
Whitfield said the curfew will be enforced by all local law enforcement and will remain in effect until a state of emergency no longer exists. Hopkins County has been under a declared state of emergency since March 16 which gives the judge-executive the authority to declare a curfew under state law.
The judge-executive said COVID-19 is now widespread throughout Hopkins County.
Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday that a church revival last month in Hopkins County was directly linked to the spread of the COVID-19 virus in three other counties as well as a nursing home, health care facility and industrial site in Hopkins County.
Whitfield had nothing but praise for those in Hopkins County who are on the front lines every day throughout this pandemic.
Hopkins County has 33 confirmed COVID-19 cases and reported their third death Thursday morning. They along with Christian, Daviess, and Warren counties have the most confirmed COVID-19 cases in western Kentucky.
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