Beshear issues executive order; masks are required in public
As was expected with the rise in cases around the Commonwealth, Governor Andy Beshear announced yesterday a new executive order mandating that masks be worn in public. All residents will have to wear their masks in public when social distancing is not possible.
“It’s no longer voluntary, it’s mandatory,” Beshear stated Thursday evening, “And I’m willing to take whatever criticism comes.”
Beshear noted in his press conference that the new mandate was, in part, to help keep the economy open. Kentucky now joins several other states that require residents to wear masks in public, joining neighboring states Illinois, West Virginia, and Virginia.
There are exceptions to the order, including children under the age of 5, those with disabilities, and physical or mental impairments. The entire executive order is scheduled to go into effect this evening at 5 p.m., and can be found on our website.
Ronnie Milsap rescheduled for December concert in E’town
The Ronnie Milsap concert that was scheduled to be held at the Historic State Theater on August 7th has been rescheduled to December 11th.
City Events Manager Sarah Vaughn explained that because of current capacity guidelines, the opportunity to hold the concert at full-capacity was not feasible. Vaughn says that those with their tickets can still use them for the rescheduled date, and those that no longer are wanting to attend due to COVID-19 concerns can contact the theater for a refund.
United Way cancels Power of the Purse for 2020
United Way of Central Kentucky’s annual Power of the Purse event has been cancelled for this year.
Events Manager Hunter Roberts explained that the efforts and resources needed to host the event, even in an online “virtual” format, would be extensive. Roberts said that those resources need to be used for campaigns that are ongoing right. United Way hopes to have the in-person event next year.
Donations to the organization can still be made at unitedwayck.org.
State continues to report large number of COVID cases
As Governor Andy Beshear announced the new mask mandate yesterday, he also announced 333 new cases of the virus. That brings the state’s total number so far to over 18,000 cases. The Governor also reported 4 new deaths, bringing that total to 612.
Locally, the Lincoln Trail District Health Department confirmed 19 new cases, 13 of which were from Hardin county. The district has 162 cases currently in home isolation and only 1 hospitalization. 306 patients have recovered from the virus so far locally.
Health officials push back against claims of false COVID results
Local health officials are pushing back against widespread social media posts claiming positive COVID-19 tests are being misrepresented in exchange for more federal funding.
“I would seriously doubt the falsification of positive results happened with healthcare providers,” Hardin Memorial Vice President and Chief Development Officer Tracee Troutt said. “No reputable healthcare system or group of providers would falsify positive results in order to receive more money.”
“As with almost everything, don’t rely on social media as your source of information,” she explained.
Troutt said that the healthcare provider did not receive money for treating large numbers of covid cases, but did get funds through the CARES Act, as most healthcare facilities did.
