LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky reported a record single-day high of 1,163 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced. Thirty-nine of the new cases were children ages 5 and younger, and 526 of the new cases were reported in Jefferson County.
Some of the new cases included in Wednesday's report were not counted earlier because of a computer glitch, which the governor said led to an "artificially low" report Monday.Â
Nonetheless, Wednesday marked the first time Kentucky reported more than 1,000 new cases in a single day. The previous single-day high was 979 new cases on July 19.
Through the first three days of this week, Kentucky has reported 2,000 new cases, up 27% from the same period last week, and up 20% from the same period the week before that.
"Right now, the COVID is hot as a firecracker, in Kentucky," said Beshear, who pushed back on school districts, including the Archdiocese of Louisville, deciding to begin in-person classes as early as next week.Â
"I disagree with their decision. I don't believe it's safe," said Beshear, who urged the districts to hold off until Sept. 28 to allow more time to get the virus under control.
"Not doing this right, right now, can have a major impact on a whole community," he added.
However, the governor said he will not move to shut down any school that opens early — unless there is a major outbreak
"A severe proven threat to the health of the people in the school and a failure to take any action to address it," Beshear said.
Kentucky Gov. Andy BeshearÂ
Despite the state's new single-day high, Beshear said Kentucky's positivity rate, or the share of tests that come back positive, has fallen to 5.62% from 5.87% on Tuesday. The White House recommends that rates should be below 5% before mitigation measures are relaxed.
The governor also continued to insist that his mask mandate is preventing an even sharper surge.
"The reason that I think masks are working isn't that we immediately have fewer cases; it's that we are stopping the escalation," he said.Â
Seven more Kentuckians have died after testing positive for COVID-19, Beshear said, bringing the death toll to 790.
The victims reported Wednesday include: two women, ages 85 and 87, from Jefferson County, an 80-year-old man from Oldham County, a 71-year-old man from Meade County, a 73-year-old woman from Christian County, a 75-year-old woman from Fayette County and a 71-year-old man from Barren County.
As of Wednesday, Beshear said 685 Kentuckians were hospitalized with the virus, 143 patients were being treated in intensive care units and 95 patients were on ventilators. At least 8,893 have recovered.
Beshear confirmed that he is close to a deal with Secretary of State Michael Adams on a pandemic plan for voting in November.
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams
"Right now, I'm confident that we can reach a good agreement," the governor said.
A main sticking point, Adams said, is over who can qualify to vote absentee and by mail.
"I think we're basically in agreement there that the system can't handle everyone voting by mail, but we can certainly protect the most vulnerable," he said.
Indiana
Indiana reported 671 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the state's total number of infections since the pandemic began to 76,522.
Indiana's seven-day coronavirus positivity rate is 7.7%, according to the Indiana State Department of Health, and its total positivity rate is 8.8%. Statewide, nearly 1.1 million tests have been administered.
ISDH said 15 more people have died after testing positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths to 2,878.
In southern Indiana, Clark County has 1,307 confirmed cases, and Floyd County has 822.
To find testing locations, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov and click on the COVID-19 testing information tab. More than 200 locations are available in Indiana.
Copyright 2020 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
