Beshear reports 203 new coronavirus cases and 7 more deaths; guidance up for pools and gatherings up to 50, allowed June 29

Published 8:11 am Wednesday, June 17, 2020

After announcing 203 new coronavirus cases today, Gov. Andy Beshear reminded Kentuckians in a news release that there are three things they can do to slow the spread of the virus.

“No. 1: Socially distance, wash your hands and wear a mask; that’s critically important. No. 2: Make sure you regularly get tested for covid-19. We need that all over the commonwealth. And No. 3: If you’re contacted by one of our contact tracers, make sure you talk to them. That’s how you protect yourself and everybody around you. If we can do those three things, we can continue to reopen Kentucky, to do it safely and to protect one another.”

The new cases raised the state’s total to 12,829. The daily report shows that 395 people are currently hospitalized with the virus, 69 are in intensive care and 3,431 have recovered from it.

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Jefferson County had the highest number of new cases Tuesday, 54. That was followed by Fayette, with 28; Warren with 15, and Laurel with 9.

Beshear, who has begun holding covid-19 briefings only three days a week, reported seven new deaths from the disease Tuesday, raising the state’s death toll to 512.

The fatalities were a 72-year-old man from Allen County; a 43-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman from Boone County; a 77-year-old woman from Green County; an 80-year-old woman from Hardin County; and two women, 74 and 89, from Jefferson County.

In long-term care facilities, 14 more residents and eight more staff tested positive for the virus, bringing those totals up to 1,530 and 732 respectively, according to the daily report. The report shows one additional resident death, bringing the death totals to 323 confirmed resident deaths, four probable resident deaths and three staff deaths.

The state has updated its guidance for reopening of public pools and gatherings of up to 50 people, both of which will be allowed on June 29.

The guidance for gatherings of up to 50 cautions that anyone who has a condition that puts them at a higher risk for getting the virus, or is over 65, should remain “healthy at home.”

The guidance says groups holding gatherings “must” ask those who are sick to stay home, maintain social distancing and have all wear masks if they will be closer than six feet apart, with exceptions for those in the same household; ensure appropriate hand hygiene; screen and exclude those with a fever, symptoms of covid-19 or direct exposure to the virus; and to not share food, drinks or utensils.

The four-page pool guidance offers requirements for social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting, personal protective equipment, and training and safety.

Some pools, such as those in Lexington, have already announced they will not open this summer.