Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday updated Kentuckians on the state’s continuing efforts to fight the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).
The Governor also was joined Wednesday by state Rep. Charles Booker and J. Michael Brown, secretary of the Governor’s executive cabinet, to respond to questions about the grand jury report into the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville.
The Governor acknowledged that he could not control the decision made, but did call for more information to be released and committed to listening, hearing and doing more.
“I am committed to building a more just and equitable commonwealth for our people, and in honor of Breonna Taylor and her family,” Gov. Beshear said. “My prayer is we can work together to achieve a better world, that I can continue to listen, hear and have the courage to do what’s necessary to create justice and move forward, and that all of us – all of us – can come together to move closer to the world Breonna calls us to create.”
As of 4 p.m. Sept. 23, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 63,517 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 796 of which were newly reported Wednesday. One hundred and eleven of the newly reported cases were from children ages 18 and younger, 24 of which were children ages 5 and under. The youngest were two 2-month-old babies.
“What I’d ask is that everybody, including those who may march today or go into their house of worship, please wear a mask,” the Governor said. “I know you will. This is so important.”
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear reported five new deaths Wednesday, raising the total to 1,124 Kentuckians lost to the virus.
The deaths reported Wednesday include a 99-year-old woman from Christian County; a 50-year-old man and two women, ages 81 and 84, from Jefferson County; and an 83-year-old man from Marshall County.
“We’ve already talked about one tragic loss today. And now we’re reporting five more people who we’ve lost to COVID-19,” said Gov. Beshear. “Let’s make sure we prevent more tragic losses. I want for us to build a better world.”
As of Wednesday, there have been at least 1,291,548 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate was 4.59%, and at least 11,480 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
(provided by the Office of Gov. Andy Beshear)
