Regional & State Archives

Gov. Beshear mandates masks in stores and other public places; initial order is for 30 days

by Jennifer P. Brown
July 9, 2020

Beshear said he ordered the mask requirement because recent increases in coronavirus cases threaten to escalate the spread in Kentucky. He said he doesn’t want Kentucky to experience the kind of spike seen in other states that now face hospital bed shortages.

Governor says mandatory new requirements are coming after state reports highest number of coronavirus cases identified in a single day

by Melissa Patrick
July 8, 2020

One measure Beshear could mandate is the wearing of face masks, a step that is highly controversial despite proof that it curbs the spread of the virus. Such orders have been issued by governors in at least 19 other states, including West Virginia.

Coronavirus hits budgets, enrollment at Kentucky universities

by Ryland Barton
July 8, 2020

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.

State reports 371 coronavirus cases, most yet found on a single day; West Virginia and Sevier County, Tenn., require masks

by Al Cross
July 8, 2020

The previous one-day high was 322, except the 625 reported on May 5, when the total included 309 cases found over many days of testing at a Western Kentucky prison.

Kentucky lawsuit seeks to keep universal mail-in voting for November general election

by Ryland Barton
July 7, 2020

Beshear has signaled that he wants to continue universal mail-in voting during the November election, but Adams is still considering it.

Beshear extends period for remote renewal of driver’s licenses

by Dalton York
July 7, 2020

Drivers may use the remote process until at least Sept. 30 to avoid in-person contact when renewing a license.

Virus cases still on plateau, but hospitalizations and intensive-care usage are up

by Melissa Patrick
July 6, 2020

The state's daily report said 433 Kentuckians are hospitalized and 109 of them are in intensive care, apparently the most yet. Beshear has said that in addition to maintaining a plateau of new cases, hospitalizations and intensive-care cases are important metrics to watch as the state tries to function during a pandemic.

Pandemic lays bare the starvation of public health departments; Ky. spending per resident fell 32% from 2010 to 2018, story says

by Kentucky Health News
July 5, 2020

The state's non-hospital public-health expenses per resident dropped 32 percent, more than any state but South Carolina and Nevada, which dropped 55 and 33 percent, respectively.

Health experts: Unmasked young people are likely to create a surge in COVID-19 cases in Kentucky

by Al Cross
July 3, 2020

Young people are the least likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19, but they can spread it for days without having any symptoms.

Cases, hospitalizations and ICU cases jump; judge blocks limits on day care centers; map rates risk based on recent cases

by Al Cross
July 3, 2020

Kentucky reported 299 new cases of coronavirus Friday, one of the highest daily numbers yet.

As Lexington cases set a new record, mayor urges mask wearing; Cameron joins Northern Ky. suit attacking Beshear’s restrictions

by Kentucky Health News
July 3, 2020

The state's daily report said 430 people in Kentucky were hospitalized for covid-19, up from 427 the day before. Intensive-care cases remained steady at 73; they have ranged from 61 to 79 in the last three weeks.