FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky’s spike in coronavirus cases accelerated Tuesday when 1,018 more cases were reported - the state’s second-highest daily total since the pandemic began.
The near-record number should be a “wake-up call,” Gov. Andy Beshear said as he kept urging people to wear masks in public and follow other health guidelines to contain the virus.
Having warned that Kentucky is at the start of a new escalation of cases, Beshear said: “We’re certainly seeing that in today’s numbers. That means we’ve got to work harder.”
“We can’t let this thing get out of control again because maybe we’re tired,” the Democratic governor added at a news conference. “We know the steps that it takes.”
Dr. Steven Stack, Kentucky’s public health commissioner, said “every place on … Earth where people have gotten lazy and lax about following the things we recommend has seen a surge in disease.”
The spike in Kentucky cases comes as many children have returned to school across the state.
Beshear has warned Kentuckians not to become complacent in responding to the health crisis, which could lead to more cases and ultimately more deaths. To reinforce his point, he said the state is on pace to exceed last week’s total number of virus cases, which was a weekly record.
Kentucky reported eight more virus-related deaths Tuesday, raising its death count to at least 1,170. The near-record daily case count increased the statewide total to more than 67,850 cases.
“When we have 1,018 cases, it means we’re going to lose more people moving forward,” Beshear warned.
The surge in virus cases means testing is widespread, he said, but added that it also signals the state is “going in the wrong direction” in containing the virus.
Kentucky’s closely watched positivity rate - a seven-day rolling figure reflecting the average number of tests coming back positive for the virus - was 4.24%, down slightly from Monday.
Beshear on Tuesday reported 303 additional cases among college students in Kentucky and 157 new cases among children ages 18 and younger.
Nearly 590 people are hospitalized in Kentucky because of COVID-19, including 129 in intensive care and 81 on ventilators, the governor said.
With cold weather approaching, more people will be inside, where the virus spreads faster, he said.
“Right now moving into the fall has the potential to be the most dangerous time we have seen in Kentucky,” Beshear said. “And it doesn’t have to be.”
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.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.