KY Gov. Beshear aims at several spots to flatten COVID-19 curve

KENTUCKY (WFIE) - As the Tri-State and the rest of the world continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, the commonwealth of Kentucky is taking aim at several COVID-19 hotspots to help flatten the curve.

14 News spoke one-on-one with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday.

Gov. Beshear told 14 News the number of COVID-19 cases in Kentucky is currently stable and the curve has plateaued, but areas of real concern still exist across the Bluegrass State.

“We will get through this, and we will get through this together,” Gov. Beshear said.

While accentuating the positive, the Governor also pointed to several trouble spots that need attention.

For starters, more than half of Kentucky’s coronavirus cases are located in nursing homes.

Another specific place of interest is the Green River Correctional Complex in Central City, where the virus has forced the segregation of inmates into four buildings based on their COVID-19 status.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred at Tyson Foods in Robards and Perdue Farms in Ohio County.

Beshear says after some tough talks, Perdue agreed to start testing every employee immediately.

“I understand the importance of that plant in our overall food chain supply," Beshear said. "But we can’t ask any individual to go into an environment that we know is unsafe.”

14 News shared with Beshear the complaints that we have been receiving about the state’s pace of processing unemployment claims. The Governor simply apologized.

“I’ll own it, I’m Governor - I’m not going to blame it on historic numbers, though those have been a challenge," Beshear said. "It’s my job to make sure we get it done, and the current level and pace is not acceptable.”

Despite the areas of concern, Gov. Beshear says the state is still on track for a gradual reopening of the economy.

“And if I believe for a minute that we see a spike, I won’t be hesitant to pause where we are going,” Beshear said.

In the near future, Gov. Beshear says Kentucky will exceed 30,000 tests per week, or roughly 3% of the population.

As part of Phase 2 of the Governor’s plan to reopen the state’s healthcare services, outpatient and ambulatory surgery, as well as invasive procedures, resumed on Wednesday.

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