STU JOHNSON

file photo CREDIT UKHEALTHCARE.UKY.EDU

Governor Beshear hopes people across Kentucky will try to get a cloth mask this week.

During his Sunday night coronavirus briefing the governor indicated protective masks for those out and about in public could help prevent a summer or fall surge of cases. “Do I believe that as we open up and do more things that masks will be credible important to determine whether or not there will be a next spike?  Yes, it’s not the only factor, but it will be a factor,” said Beshear.

Beshear and State Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack talked about guidelines for certain health care operations to reopen this week.  Both stressed that if any of these businesses can’t meet the guidelines, they should not reopen.   Stack said from a medical standpoint the state would probably prefer to wait even longer before lifting any restrictions.  “But we’re trying to balance competing societal needs.  People’s need to get back to work, people’s need to perform other important functions in society, people’s need to pursue their lives with the need to also keep people safe,” explained Stack.

The governor reported 203 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths.