FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky reported 17 more coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, one of its highest one-day totals as the state combats an escalating outbreak.
The latest deaths included a 29-year-old woman from Clark County who had “significant underlying health conditions,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. Her death marked the first coronavirus-linked fatality of someone in their 20s to be reported in Kentucky, he said.
The 17 deaths were the fifth-highest daily total in Kentucky since the start of the pandemic, he said.
The state also reported 910 new cases of COVID-19, down from the prior two days when daily case counts topped 1,000, the governor said. The spike in cases is hitting rural and urban areas, and Beshear said the state remains on course to set another record for the number of cases in a week.
“When we have a lot of cases, sadly a lot of death follows,” Beshear said at a news conference.
The Democratic governor continued to stress the need to wear masks in public, maintain social distancing and follow other health guidelines to contain the virus.
“We can turn this escalation around,” he said. “We can turn this increase in deaths around. It is all in our power, even though the existence of the virus is out of our power.”
The state’s closely watched positivity rate - a seven-day rolling figure reflecting the average number of tests coming back positive for the virus - was 4.11%, up slightly from the day before. Kentucky’s virus-related death count rose to at least 1,191. Its total number of cases surpassed 69,720.
With statewide virus cases on the rise in recent weeks, Beshear was asked whether further restrictions are needed to combat the outbreak.
“Right now, I don’t think it has to do with where our level of guidance is,” the governor said. “I think it has to do with how well people are following that guidance.”
Meanwhile, Beshear’s administration released health guidance for Halloween.
Under the guidelines, children should wear facial coverings beneath their costumes, and large groups with multiple families should be avoided when children go from house to house. Individually wrapped candy should be placed on a porch, driveway or table for children to pick up.
The guidance is meant to make Halloween as safe as possible while allowing children to have fun, the governor said, adding that it’s “not too much to ask” during a pandemic.
“Really, what are we asking? That instead of holding the bowl and leaning over kids as they pick something out, that we spread the candy out on a table in front of our house,” Beshear said.
Adults are being asked to give up Halloween parties this year.
“Let’s all come together and make sure the kids can have a good, safe experience and have fun,” said Dr. Steven Stack, Kentucky’s public health commissioner. “This is not the year to have all the adult Halloween parties.”
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal. The vast majority of people recover.
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