Derby officials initially wanted to have some fans in attendance for the most exciting two minutes in sports, the steady increase of coronavirus cases in Louisville and Kentucky prevented that from happening.
Beshear reported 807 news cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, 150 of those were in children under 18 and of those, 50 were 17 or 18. The youngest was only 27 days old.
Christian County was among 14 counties in the White House Coronavirus Task Force report's "red zone," where new cases of the virus numbered more than one per 1,000 residents and the share of residents who tested positive during the week was over 10%.
Leaders of the legislature's Republican majorities have said Beshear should have consulted with them before making major moves, such as his July 9 order to wear masks in indoor public spaces and outdoors when six feet of distance can't be maintained. The governor has said Republicans dislike the highly public role he is playing and are politically motivated.
Ahead of Kentucky Derby Week, the state health commissioner urged people to consider how they will celebrate. He said previous holiday celebrations, and the outcomes, are reasons to be cautious.
