A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Beshear reports 720 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths; Stack warns of ‘twindemic’ — get flu shot


Gov. Andy Beshear on Saturday reported 721 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths, bringing the state’s totals to 56,415 cases and 1,057 deaths. Eighty-one of the new cases were children 18 and under, of which 15 were ages 5 and under. The youngest was a 6-month old from Warren County.

Kenton and Boone counties reported eight cases each and Campbell County reported four.

“Make sure you’re protecting your family, yourself and one another,” said Beshear.

Mask Up Kentucky!

“Our positivity rate is down from yesterday but we need to continue to push that number down.”

The deaths reported Saturday include an 89-year-old man from Barren County; an 83-year-old woman from Bell County; two women, ages 80 and 83, and two men, both age 81, from Jefferson County; a 78-year-old woman from Logan County; a 59-year-old woman from Muhlenberg County; a 76-year-old woman from Simpson County; and three women, ages 62, 81 and 93, and a 72-year-old man from Warren County.

“We need you to continue to mask up, stay socially distant and do what it takes to beat COVID-19,” said Beshear. “This thing is deadly and it’s real so let’s treat it as such.”

As of Saturday, there have been at least 990,957 coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky. The positivity rate currently stands at 4.14 percent. At least 10,872 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.

After a recent spike in new daily cases and a daily record for deaths reported Thursday, Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Department for Public Health, noted news relating to the wait for a COVID-19 vaccine.

“As we wait for a vaccine, there’s one thing we can do. We can get an immunization that already exists: the flu vaccine,” Stack said. “Protecting ourselves against the flu is more important than ever. An influenza outbreak on top of the COVID-19 pandemic could be disastrous this fall and winter. The health care systems upon which Kentuckians rely could be overwhelmed by what some say is a looming ‘twindemic.’”

If Kentuckians don’t follow guidelines, such as social distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing, we could be headed into “the worst fall, from a public health perspective, that we’ve seen in a long time,” Stack said.

“Flu shots are widely available right now, and this weekend is as good a time as any to see your primary care provider or head to a clinic, drug store or other place offering it,” Stack said. “In some cases, there’s even no charge, so please, take one for the team. Take one for Team Kentucky.”

For additional information, including up-to-date lists of positive cases and deaths, as well as breakdowns of coronavirus infections by county, race and ethnicity, click here.


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