FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky is testing a handful of patients for the coronavirus, but there are no confirmed cases in the state, Gov. Andy Beshear said.
Beshear said Thursday that state officials have tested seven low-risk people for the virus. Four so far were negative and three results are pending. The patients were tested “out of an abundance of caution,” Beshear said.
Beshear said the state’s Department of Health now has the capability to test for the virus and can get results in the same day or the next day. The testing began on Monday.
Dr. Steven Stack, the state’s public health commissioner, said Kentucky now has the capacity to do up to 1,000 tests.
Beshear said residents should continue to wash their hands and stay home from work and check with their physician if they are feeling ill.
“We want people to be vigilant, but not scared,” Beshear said.
Kentucky’s neighbor to the south, Tennessee, reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus on Thursday. The patient is an adult male who recently traveled out of state.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.