Education

Beshear announced 376 new cases of the virus, including 54 under the age of 18. The share of Kentuckians testing positive for the coronavirus in the last seven days is 5.8%.

Rep. Lynn Bechler, R-Marion, asked if it is safe to say that 99 percent of the population won't die from COVID-19. Health Commissioner Steven Stack said that's true, but it's important to recognize exactly how many deaths 1% would represent, noting that is 10 times greater than the fatality rate for the flu.

The number of new cases broke the old record of 979, set on July 19, the peak of a surge that sent Kentucky to a much higher level of daily new cases.

Students will have online instruction starting Aug. 27. Following the governor's recommendation, in-person classes at the schools won't begin until at least Sept. 28.

Previously, the Christian County Board of Education voted to have students return to classrooms on Aug. 27, while also giving parents the option to enroll their children in a virtual program.

The governor said some schools that opened early in other states have had to close due to surges in cases.

The University of Kentucky plans to test all 30,000 students expected to return for in-person instruction in August with a combination of drive-thru and walk-up testing.

Beshear reported 611 new cases of the coronavirus Thursday, raising the seven-day rolling average to 593, more than double what it was on July 7, as the surge was beginning.

Christian County Public Schools are set to return to in-person instruction when the 2020-21 school year begins in just over a month

Kentucky is projected to have 8,522 fewer full-time students in its public colleges and universities compared to the last academic year, a decline of 6.1% that would result in a loss of $40.3 million.

The guidance also includes general instructions for sanitation, and says schools will need to work with health departments to help track down people who have had contact with people who have tested positive for the virus.

Kentucky schools were told Monday to prepare for intermittent closures during the school year to come, but they still await firm word from state officials about what will be recommended and what will be required.