9-month-old in Kentucky dies after contracting COVID-19, Beshear says

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A 9-month old from Hopkins County, Kentucky, has died after contracting COVID-19, Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday.

COVID-19 is a contributing factor but will not be the lead cause of death, the governor said. The state's public health commissioner, Dr. Steven Stack, said the case will remain open while health officials investigate possible causes, but "certainty is not possible" in determining how much COVID-19 contributed to the death.

"In a normal world without COVID-19, the cause of death probably would have been presumed to be SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome," Stack said. "... Because the infant tested as COVID positive, our reporting methodology has us list that as a COVID-related death.

"For parents, I'd like to reassure you again the statistics are that, for children, they overwhelmingly do just fine. In fact, the vast majority of children have no symptoms of COVID," Stack said. "... I would encourage parents to not worry overly but that you should be concerned."

Health officials have identified 265 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky, bringing the state's total number of infections to at least 10,410. Fifty-five of the new cases were reported in Jefferson County.

Eight more Kentuckians have died after contracting COVID-19, according to Beshear. The state's virus-related death toll now stands at 450. Three of the deaths reported Wednesday were Jefferson County residents: a 91-year-old woman, a 92-year-old woman and a 93-year-old woman.

As of Wednesday, 258,767 COVID-19 tests had been processed. In additional to wearing masks, Beshear urged Kentuckians participating in protests against police brutality around the state to get tested for the virus. There are still openings Friday at Kroger's drive-thru testing facility at Louisville's Southern High School, according to Kroger Health's website, and the facility has "2,000-plus" tests allocated for next week, the governor said.

"We do not have enough people signed up for testing this week in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green and (Elizabethtown)," he added.

Although Beshear said large protests may lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases with the public not as focused on the pandemic, the governor praised Kentuckians' efforts thus far in encouraging preventative measures being taken at rallies and believes it is possible to safely demand change.

"The public is focused on really important issues that need to be address, but I believe Kentuckians can do both," he said. "... When this virus is disproportionately impacting our black and African American population, I think we've got to do both."

According to state health officials, roughly 17% of the state's deaths related to COVID-19 have been African Americans, who make up roughly 8% of the state's population.

With the state's increased testing capacity and contact tracing initiative, Beshear said there is a way to ensure the spike in new cases doesn't lead to a spike in hospitalizations and deaths, if protesters are willing to self-isolate.

For a list of testing sites around Louisville, click here.