Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday updated Kentuckians on the fight against the novel coronavirus. Gov. Beshear also offered updates about a weekend protest at the Capitol, the need continued social distancing and efforts to address an outbreak at a Jefferson County facility.
As of 5 p.m. May 26, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 8,951 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 387 of which were newly confirmed through the Memorial Day weekend. That included 141 cases reported Sunday, 122 cases reported Monday and 117 cases reported Tuesday.
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear also reported three new deaths Tuesday, raising the total to 394 Kentuckians lost to the virus.
The deaths reported Tuesday include an 85-year-old woman from Adair County, a 63-year-old man from Allen County and a 72-year-old woman from Jefferson County.
Gov. Beshear continued to encourage Kentuckians to get tested for COVID-19.
193,576 people in Kentucky have been testing so far. 2,136 people have had to be hospitalized because of the virus, and as of Tuesday, 489 are still in the Hospital. 78 people are in the intensive care unit. At least 3,115 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
Gov. Beshear is encouraging all voters to use a new Absentee Ballot Application Portal now available online. A link to the State Board of Elections’ portal can be found at govoteky.com. He urged everyone who plans to vote in next month’s primary elections to go to the portal and request an absentee mail-in ballot.
During the news conference, Gov. Beshear addressed a weekend protest at the Capitol that garnered national attention when a small group marched onto the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion and hung an effigy in a nearby tree.
The Governor talked about the decision to move his family to Frankfort, the first governor’s family, kids and all, to do so in over 30 years. He talked about how it would effect his kids, aged 9 and 10, but what he thought he’d never have to question, was their personal safety. While he worried kids might be mean to them from time to time, he said he did not consider they might be bullied or heckled by adults.
The Governor noted that his administration had offered the demonstrators a drive-up protesting permit but the organizers declined. He described how a right-wing militia group marched onto the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion.
The Protestors then hung an effigy of him. According to Gov. Beshear they were trying to use “fear and terror” to force their will on others.
The Governor called out the members of the group for engaging in acts meant to intimidate as well as politicians and officeholders who have encouraged them, many of whom condemned the hanging of the effigy after the fact.
“You cannot fan the flames and condemn the fire,” he said.
Gov. Beshear said he would remain undaunted. The governor did say they are going over security protocols at the Governor’s Mansion and they maybe enforcing new security measures after this weekend’s protest.