Beshear issues new recommendations for ‘red zone’ counties

With Kentucky setting a new record for the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in a week last week as well as over 50 of Kentucky’s 120 counties being in the red in the daily incidence rate report, Gov. Andy Beshear issued some new recommendations Monday for the counties within that “critical” rating.

Last week saw 9,335 new cases of COVID-19 reported. The previous highest week Oct. 5-11, when the commonwealth reported 7,675 new cases.

“Every Kentuckian in a red zone county needs to work together to protect one another by following these recommendations,” Gov. Beshear said. “Now is not the time to give up – this is a time when more people are going to be at risk. It is a time when we need everyone to do better.”

Red zone counties are those with 25 or more average daily cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents. Red zone counties are updated daily on the incidence rate map on kycovid19.ky.gov. The Governor said when a county turns red, schools have already been asked to go virtual, sports have already been asked to pause and long-term care facilities have been asked to restrict visitation.

New Red Zone Reduction Recommendations:

•Employers should allow employees to work from home when possible

•Government offices that do not provide critical services need to operate virtually

•Reduce in-person shopping; order online or pick-up curbside as much as possible

•Order take-out; avoid dining in restaurants or bars

•Prioritize businesses that follow and enforce the mask mandate and other guidelines

•Reschedule, postpone or cancel public events

•Do not host or attend gatherings of any size

•Avoid non-essential activities outside your home

•Reduce overall activity and contacts, and follow existing guidance, including the 10 Steps to Defeat COVID-19

“This isn’t too much to ask to keep your neighbors and your loved ones alive,” said Gov. Beshear.

“It is not a good time to be out in public. This is the most dangerous it has been in eight months,” said Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Department for Public Health. “The risk of you getting infected in the state of Kentucky has never been higher.”

Ohio County, which entered the red zone temporarily two weeks ago, is currently listed as orange at 22, which is classified as “accelerated.”

All but seven of Kentucky’s counties are either in the red or orange zones. Those seven are listed as yellow which is classified as “community spread.” There are currently no counties in green which means “on track.”

Counties within the Green River District Health Department in the red zone include McLean County at 76, Hancock at 44.2 and Henderson County at 27.2. Ohio, Daviess and Union were all at orange as of Tuesday.

As of Tuesday’s report from GRDHD, there are currently 83 active cases in Ohio County with three patients listed as hospitalized. On Tuesday, Ohio County had another death attributed to COVID-19 to bring the county’s total to 10.

“Things are not getting any better,” Judge-Executive David Johnston said of the state of the pandemic in the county during his weekly briefing on social media Friday. “This is something we need to be very serious about.”