Six New COVID-19 Cases In Edmonson County: Governor Lays Out Schedules and Guidelines For Reopenings

Darren Doyle, story:
Six new positive COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Edmonson County since Tuesday for a total of 54 total reported cases since the coronavirus pandemic. One of those cases was confirmed to be a staff member of Genesis Health, Edmonson Center yesterday, but the positive cases are still holding firm at 30 for residents at the facility. Deaths still remained at 9 and recoveries at 12 for Edmonson County, with all deaths reported from Edmonson Center.

The Barren River District Health Department also reported a total of 1356 positive confirmed cases for the district with 478 reported recoveries and 27 reported deaths from coronavirus. BRDHD also reported the first confirmed virus death from Barren County today.

Total COVID-19 case info from the BRDHD May 21, 2020.

Governor Andy Beshear reported a total of 8,286 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Kentucky today with 386 deaths (4% death rate from all cases in KY). There have been a total number of 3008 recoveries in KY from the virus, or 36% of the total confirmed cases.

Also today, Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Secretary Eric Friedlander announced that on June 8, in-home child care programs can open. On June 15, center-based licensed child care programs can reopen to all families.

“Today is a day of really good news for many people. Child care is one of the areas we know is critical to reopening the economy. It is critical to parents and has been critical to our essential workers,” said Sec. Friedlander. “It’s always a balance between protecting ourselves and our families and going to back to being Healthy at Work.”

The Governor's office reported in a press release today that the maximum group size will be 10 children per group. Children will remain in the same groups all day and staff will be assigned to the same children each day to reduce exposure. All adults must wear a face mask while in any child care program (in-home or center-based). Children 5 or younger should not wear masks, but older children may wear masks as they are able.

The Governor also said that programs should stagger playground time, eliminate center-wide family events, eliminate field trips and use centralized drop-off/pick-up locations to eliminate unnecessary traffic to classrooms and reduce exposure.
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The Governor also announced auctions could be held starting June 1. Horse shows can be held again starting on June 8. Bars, gatherings with 50 people or fewer and venues that hold 50 people or fewer can reopen June 29 if they meet guidelines.

Businesses that are opening May 22 at 33% capacity can expand to 50% capacity a month later, on June 22, if they meet the guidelines.

“Based on the numbers we are seeing right now, we think we will be responsible and that we can hit it at that time,” said Gov. Beshear. “It all depends on how good we do at being Healthy at Work.”  
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For more information on the Healthy at Work timeline and industry requirements, click here.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND INFO:

​Gov. Beshear and state health officials are asking all Kentuckians to keep gatherings to 10 or fewer people.

“We’ve done a wonderful job coming together and showing our care and concern for each other in Kentucky,” said Kentucky Department of Public Health (KDPH) Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack. “The works not over, and if we take our eye off the ball, in June or July, we’ll have the very problem we’ve averted so far.”
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Other guidance includes wearing masks, maintaining social distancing of six feet or more, gathering outside instead of inside, washing hands frequently and covering food and individually wrapping plates.