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Gov. Beshear's Sunday COVID-19 Update

Gov. Beshear's Sunday COVID-19 Update
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By West Kentucky Star Staff
Apr. 05, 2020 | FRANKFORT
By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 05, 2020 | 05:10 PM | FRANKFORT
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in his daily COVID-19 briefing Sunday afternoon that social distancing efforts in the commonwealth continue to prove effective. He also announced a massive surge in testing set to begin later this week.

Beshear said proof that social distancing is working can be found in the curve of Kentucky's new cases compared to other states that have been more relaxed, or waited longer to implement stay at home orders. 

"If you look at where we are at the moment, it shows we are working really hard," Beshear said. "The sacrifices we have made, while they have been difficult, have been the right sacrifices. We can already see they were the right steps to take, and we took them sooner than most. While I've taken some aggressive action, you have bought into it. The harder you work, the better we will continue to look compared to other states."

Beshear announced 38 new cases in the state Sunday, for  a total of 955 confirmed cases. There were five new deaths. They include three in Jefferson County, one in McClean County and one in Woodford County. Forty-four people have now died in Kentucky of complications from the virus. 

Beshear also announced the state has entered into a partnership with Covington-based Gravity Diagnostics to purchase up to 2,000 tests per week to be distributed statewide. The tests will provide next-day results for symptomatic and high-risk patients. Beshear added that officials are looking into ways to acquire additional swabs to be used to collect samples from patients. The new tests will begin to be available Wednesday or Thursday, according to Beshear.

Although most churches in the state have complied with Governor Beshear's order to cease public gatherings, a few have defied that order, continuing to hold in-person services. Beshear warned any church still meeting in person to stop, saying there is direct evidence of the disease being spread due to these services.

"If there is a group that is still meeting inside of a building, this is being spread. People will die. We just can't let that happen." Beshear said.

"For those that don't follow those recommendations, you are endangering our success. That's when people get sick, and that's when more Kentuckians die." said Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health Dr. Steven J. Stack, adding that while cloth masks may have some limited effectiveness to stop the spread of the virus, they are no substitute for social distancing, and should not provide a false sense of security.

"Remember that we are in this together," Beshear said. "More so now than ever before, the decisions of every single Kentuckian will determine how we get through this.
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