STU JOHNSON

CREDIT KENTUCKY.COM

State Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack says testing for coronavirus is planned this week at 23 long term care facilities this week.

During Monday night’s briefing in Frankfort, Dr. Stack said the schedule calls for testing nearly three thousand residents and staff over the next two days.  “We are going to go methodically over the next weeks to test nursing homes and to work with them, to try to put in place plans, to help keep these most vulnerable people among us safe,” said Stack.

Governor Beshear reported 122 new COVID-19 cases for Sunday and 138 on Monday.  The governor said there were 12 new deaths, three on Sunday and nine on Monday.  In addition, Beshear said the 277 people in intensive care is concerning, and something to continue to watch.

Both Governor Beshear and Health Commissioner Stack spoke about efforts to ramp up contact tracing.  Some 700 tracers are being hired to span out and help track down people who were in close proximity to someone testing positive for the virus.

If you appreciate access to this important content during this global health emergency, please help us continue to provide public service journalism and information to Central and Eastern Kentucky communities. Please make your contribution to WEKU today.