Governor Andy Beshear began to lay out what needs to occur to begin reopening the state’s economy during his Friday update.
Before sharing what the state will be looking for, Governor Beshear explained what the U.S. government’s current gradual phasing plan is.
Beshear and Steven Stack, Public Health Commissioner, both agree one of the first things they are looking for is a 14-day slope in the number and rate of new cases.
Beshear says the second thing would be an increased testing capacity and contact tracing.
Additional things Beshear says must happen before the state would even consider starting to reopen the economy include; increasing the personal protective equipment availability, ability to protect at-risk populations and following CDC guidelines, preparedness for a possible future spike, and the status of a vaccine and treatment.
Governor Beshear says 134 cases were confirmed Friday, bringing the statewide total to 2,522. He adds 979 people have fully recovered. Additionally, the average age of residents who have tested positive is 52.
Beshear also confirmed 8 new deaths, including a 93-year old female from Graves County and a 49-year old male from Muhlenberg County. He adds the male from Muhlenberg County was an inmate at the Green River Correctional Complex and was originally from Jefferson County.
