Beshear: More than half of Kentucky's counties should follow 'red zone' recommendations to curb surging virus

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday urged residents of more than half of Kentucky's 120 counties to follow new recommendations to curb the spread of COVID-19 as the virus continues to surge throughout the commonwealth.

Averaging 25 or more new COVID-19 cases per day per 100,000 residents, counties such as Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin, Henry, LaRue, Nelson and Shelby were among the 68 marked as "red zones," according to an updated incidence rate map provided by the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

"This is a type of outbreak where we can't deny our way out of it," Beshear said during a briefing at the state Capitol. "We can't rationalize our way out it. We can't try to find excuses to for following the guidance. It is that present."

Kentucky's 'red zone' counties 10-29-20 — More than half of Kentucky's 120 counties are reporting averaging 25 or more new COVID-19 cases per day per 100,000 residents, according to an updated incidence rate map provided by the state Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020.

The recommended red-zone guidelines are as follows:

Employers allow employees to work from home whenever possible
Noncritical government offices to operate virtually
Reduce in-person shopping by ordering online or through curbside pickup as much as possible
Order take out; avoid dining in restaurants or bars
Prioritize businesses that follow and enforce mask mandate and other guidelines
Reschedule, postpone or cancel public or private events
Do not host or attend gatherings of any size
Avoid nonessential activities outside of your home
Reduce overall activity and contacts, and follow existing guidance, including the 10 steps to defeat COVID-19

"Don't go out unless you have to," Beshear said. "Don't have gatherings."

'Red zone' recommendations for Kentucky's counties amid COVID-19 pandemic 10-29-20 — Gov. Andy Beshear discusses recommended guidelines for Kentucky counties averaging 25 or more new COVID-19 cases per day per 100,000 residents during a briefing Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020.

School districts in red-zone counties are encouraged to move to virtual learning if they haven't already. The Kentucky Supreme Court has also recommended red-zone counties conduct court proceedings remotely and postpone jury trials until they curb the spread of the virus and move into the "yellow zone."

Every business is allowed to be open under the recommendations, and the governor said business owners have told his administration that the guidelines are "a lot better of a solution" than previous measures that have limited in-person operations. The hope, he said, is for communities to support local businesses while following the recommendations so the virus is curbed and the financial impact is minimal.

Health officials confirmed 1,821 new cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky on Thursday and 19 more deaths in which the virus was a contributing factor, according to the governor. Of the new cases, 331 were reported in Jefferson County.

Thursday's report marked the third-most new cases Kentucky has reported in a single day and followed 1,864 new cases reported Wednesday, which was the second-most cases reported in a single day since March. The state's positivity rate, or the share of COVID-19 tests that come back positive, stayed above 6% for the second day in a row.

According to a report from Kentucky Public Health, 969 Kentuckians were hospitalized with the virus Thursday, and 234 were being treated in intensive care units.

Kentucky capitol — The dome of Kentucky's state Capitol is lit green to remember those who have died of COVID-19.
Eric Crawford photo.

The state's virus-related death toll climbed to 1,461 with the 19 deaths reported Thursday. Four of the victims were from Jefferson County: two men, ages 88 and 90, and two women, ages 83 and 88.

Of Kentucky's 103,305 confirmed cases, at least 18,277 have recovered.

This story may be updated.