Capitol to Calloway

Capitol

Sunday

Gov. Andy Beshear announced 134 new cases of coronavirus in Kentucky as of Saturday’s press conference.

Three additional deaths were reported, bringing the statewide death toll to 97. The reported deaths were a 72-year-old male from Jefferson County, a 74-year-old female from Hopkins County, and a 62-year-old male who was believed to live in Pike County.

Beshear announced a partnership with Kroger, a grocery chain, to provide around 20,000 drive-thru tests statewide in the coming weeks. Kroger will also supply the medical staff and personal protective equipment (PPE).

“Kroger is not charging the state one penny for this,” Beshear said. “I don’t know anywhere else in the country where people are doing that. They might be, but that’s really incredible that they are providing the people and the [PPE] to do it.”

Testing will begin Monday in Frankfort. More sites are expected to be added in the coming weeks.

President of Kroger Health Colleen Lindholz said drive-thrus will test from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It is expected Kroger medical staff can administer around 250 tests per day in this time frame.

The Kroger partnership will double the state’s current testing capacity.

For now, Kroger testing is limited to health care workers, first responders, senior adults and individuals with chronic health conditions. To apply for a COVID-19 test, go to Kroger’s digital registration portal.

Saturday

Gov. Andy Beshear announced 185 new cases of coronavirus in Kentucky as of Friday’s press conference.

Four additional deaths were reported, bringing the statewide death toll to 94. The reported deaths were an 87-year-old male from Boone County, a 55-year-old male from Jefferson County, a 79-year-old male from Daviess County and a 79-year-old female from Pulaski County.

Beshear said of the 70% of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19, 81% are white, 12% are black, 2.56% are Asian and 3.9% are multiracial.

The governor knows of seven mass gatherings planned for tomorrow, Easter Sunday, in Kentucky. Calculations show that if the coronavirus is spread as a result of those gatherings, around 42 deaths could occur.

“I’m willing to make an unpopular decision, whatever it means for me in the future, if I can save 42 people,” he said. “I would give up being politically popular, which I’ve only been for about three weeks, in a nanosecond to save 42 lives.”

Beshear still stands by his decision for state troopers to report license plate numbers of those attending mass gatherings to local health departments. The health departments will then mandate those individuals to quarantine at home for 14 days.

“I know some people might disagree with this,” Beshear said. “But they don’t have to read out the number of deaths every day. They don’t have to do that. And while this is a worldwide pandemic, I feel responsible for those deaths, for better or worse.”

Beshear said while an exit strategy is being prepared by his administration, it will not be put in effect until the apex has passed and cases have decreased significantly.

Friday

Gov. Andy Beshear announced today’s 242 new cases of coronavirus marks the Commonwealth’s largest one-day total in this pandemic.

Three of the new cases are from Calloway County.

The governor reported 459 of the 1,693 infected Kentuckians have required hospitalization, with only 177 of patients needing intensive care.

While 90 Kentuckians have died from coronavirus, 464 people have recovered.

“For 90 separate Kentuckians, let’s commit to doing better,” Beshear said. “I know you’re working hard, but we need to do better. This number is going to get worse. There’s going to be tougher days than today. But our actions today are going to be seen in about two weeks.”

Beshear identified the three most critical steps of addressing COVID-19 are social distancing, increased healthcare capacity and increased testing.

The governor’s newest initiative involves state police recording the license plate numbers of cars at mass gatherings and providing the data to local health departments. Local health departments will then show up to the vehicle owner’s doorstep with a mandate to self-quarantine for 14 days.

“If you make the decision to expose yourself to this virus, it’s not fair to everybody else out there who you might spread it to,” Beshear said. “We shouldn’t have to do this.”

The mandate will not affect drive-thru church services.

A video submitted by Kentucky pastors urged congregations to worship from home this Easter Sunday.

“Churches might be empty this Easter, but so is the grave,” Todd Lester, pastor of Forks of Elkorn Baptist Church in Midway said. “We encourage you and your family to worship the risen Lord at home this Easter. Stay healthy and stay safe.”

Infection data for Green River Correctional Complex, Western State Hospital and long-term healthcare facilities was shared by the governor.

In lighter news, sign language interpreter Virginia Moore taught the signs for the phrase “We will get through this together” to viewers. The interpreters will continue teaching new phrases in future broadcasts.

Calloway

COVID-19

As of Sunday at 10 p.m., Calloway County Health Department received notification of the county’s thirteenth confirmed case of coronavirus. Additional information about the person could not be released because of medical privacy laws. 

Response to Governor’s License Plate Initiative

Calloway County Judge-Executive Kenny Imes responded to Gov. Beshear’s license plate initiative on his personal Facebook, saying local law enforcement will not collect vehicle information.

Imes agreed with Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s statement: “I encourage all Kentuckians to social distance and celebrate Easter in their homes, as I’ll be doing. I am, however, deeply concerned that our law enforcement officers are being asked to single out religious services. Directing a uniformed presence at church services to record the identity of worshippers and force a quarantine, while doing no such thing for the people gathered at retail stores or obtaining an abortion, is the definition of arbitrary.”

Calloway County School District Food Service

A Calloway County School District food service employee who tested positive for COVID-19 was last at work on Friday, April 3. As a result, the school district is suspending meal deliveries until Monday, April 20.

Virtual Egg Hunt

Journey Church in Murray is having a virtual egg hunt this Easter. Participants can download colorable Easter eggs, place them in their windows and post pictures with the hashtag #foregghunt. Murrayans are invited to drive around town to spot these eggs in houses and participating local businesses.

Easter Sunday

For the first time in Kentucky’s history, most churches will be hosting online-only worship services. Read this Murray Ledger & Times story to learn more about how area churches are responding to COVID-19 restrictions on Easter.

Racers Helping Racers Food Pantry

Murray State students needing food assistance will continue to receive support from the Racers Helping Racers food pantry. Students can fill out this form to receive aid.

Foster Pets

The Humane Society of Calloway County and the Murray-Calloway County Animal Shelter are encouraging individuals to take in foster pets during the COVID-19 crisis. To contact the humane society, email humanesociety@murray-ky.net or message the Humane Society of Calloway County Facebook page. To contact the animal shelter, call 270-759-4141 or message the Murray-Calloway County Animal Shelter Facebook page.