FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky reported 628 new coronavirus cases and 11 more deaths Thursday, but a lower rate of positive COVID-19 tests offered a good sign in the fight against the virus, Gov. Andy Beshear said.
The Democratic governor said the lower positivity rate is proof his mask-wearing mandate in public is working.
Kentucky’s positivity rate - a rolling figure reflecting the average number of tests coming back positive for COVID-19 - was 3.82%, continuing a recent trend below 4%.
“It means that we have significant testing going on,” Beshear told reporters. “It means our positivity rate is going down, which is a good thing. But remember, it’s not because we are testing folks that we do better. It’s because of our actions. It’s because of social distancing. It’s because of wearing a mask. We believe that mask mandate is working.”
While the positivity rate is “moving in the right direction,” the state needs to lower its number of coronavirus cases, he said.
The 11 newest virus-related deaths raised the statewide death count to 1,093 since the pandemic began, Beshear said. The total number of virus cases statewide was at least 59,370.
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