Health

The state could pay dearly in June if people get complacent about warnings, the state health commissioner said.

The state plans to open bars and allow gatherings of 50 or fewer people beginning June 29.

The state reported 135 new cases and 10 deaths.

The total includes 13 people who had an active case of the coronavirus as of Wednesday.

The governor also stressed the importance of wearing masks as the state reopens its economy, and encouraged Kentuckians to share social-media posts about why they wear masks and to talk to others about it.

Statewide, 443 people were hospitalized, and 20 deaths were reported, the most in a single day since the start of the coroanvirus outbreak.

If too many people don't take precautions, the COVID-19 crisis the state has so far avoided could erupt this summer, Dr. Steven Stack said.

Contact tracing is crucial, the governor said, because it's estimated one-fourth of people infected with the coronavirus have no symptoms.

Kentucky had 260 news cases combined on Sunday and Monday, and 12 deaths.

The governor says Kentucky is preparing to hire more than 700 people to help with contract tracing.

Kentucky's retail stores are slated to open despite federal guidelines that say such reopenings shouldn't occur unless there is a downward trajectory in newly reported COVID-19 cases.

The state reported 244 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths related to the virus.