FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky’s coronavirus-related deaths surpassed 1,500 on Tuesday as the COVID-19 surge continued with the sixth-highest number of daily virus cases reported in the state, Gov. Andy Beshear said.
The state posted 11 more virus-related deaths, raising Kentucky’s death toll to at least 1,503, he said.
“That is a grim milestone,” the governor said at a news conference. “And it appears that we are going to lose a significant number of additional Kentuckians unless we pick it up, unless we do better.”
Recommendations aimed at containing the virus’s spread are in effect for the majority of Kentucky counties included in the red zone - the most serious category for COVID-19 incidence rates.
The Democratic governor also stresses the need to wear masks in public and to follow social distancing and other health guidelines.
Beshear reported 1,795 new virus cases statewide Tuesday, increasing the total number of cases to more than 111,000 since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, virus-related hospitalizations in Kentucky continued to rise, with 1,037 virus patients now in hospitals, the governor said. The state’s positivity rate was 6.24%.
“It continues to be a very difficult time in the commonwealth, where every day things appear to be getting worse and more concerning,” Beshear said.
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