By STU JOHNSON

Governor Beshear At July 14th Briefing In The Capitol Rotunda CREDIT STU JOHNSON

Governor Beshear hopes to have an update Thursday on efforts to reduce the backlog of unemployment claims.  During Tuesday’s briefing in the capitol rotunda, the governor said it should include claims remaining for each month as well as the number being processed under contract.

Beshear said there’s been another hitch slowing the process. “There are certain claims that based on changes by the federal government were denied under federal law initially that are now being allowed months later and what that does is make it look like a claim from March hasn’t been processed when the federal government made us reject it and now we can consider it,” said Beshear.

Beshear said the in-person unemployment assistance at various sites is reaching about a thousand people per day.  The governor noted, in most instances, the cases are either fully resolved or the person gets a full explanation.

Beshear reported 576 new coronavirus cases, the second highest one day total, and six deaths.  The governor said the state is, quote, “at war with the virus.”  He said mask wearing in public is critical in the days ahead.

Kentucky prison officials continue to respond to cases of coronavirus in two separate facilities.  J. Michael Brown, the governor’s cabinet secretary, cited increasing cases at the Kentucky Institution for Women and the Kentucky State Reformatory.

Governor Beshear said lessons learned at a prior outbreak at west Kentucky’s Green River Correctional Complex can help in addressing the most recent cases in Shelby and Oldham Counties.  “We need to step up cleanliness.  We need mask wearing at all times and that’s not just….we seem to just focus on those incarcerated.  It’s also everybody coming into the facility.  It’s everybody working in the facility,” explained Beshear.

Brown, meanwhile, said Kentucky has 13 state prisons and most have not seen any serious COVID-19 outbreaks.

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