Governor Beshear says hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients across Kentucky have increased for 42 straight days. During his briefing Thursday the governor said in mid-July there were 60 Kentuckians in intensive care for coronavirus. This week that figure hit 549, the highest mark so far. “My point is with all these numbers, we’re not just critical, we’re in uncharted territory. We’ve been fighting this virus for more than 18 months, we’ve never been where we are today,” said Beshear.
Beshear also reported 32 out of 96 hospital across the Commonwealth are dealing with critical staffing shortages. The governor said national guard assistance has been extended from the fall to the end of the year.
Governor Beshear said calling the general assembly into session immediately to deal with escalating Covid cases would not be appropriate. He noted if there’s agreement on COVID policies in place now there may be a little time before lawmakers need to return to Frankfort. He and legislative leaders have been in talks following the State Supreme Court ruling that statutes limiting the governor’s authority were lawful.
Beshear said, if it were his decision alone, he would re-instate a mask mandate indoors. The governor doesn’t think he has that authority currently. “I’m not talking about schools, I’m talking about the overall requirement that people wear masks. Yes, it would take a vote of the general assembly. I don’t have the authority to do that now without them,” said Beshear.
The governor said the number of cases reported Wednesday at 4849 was higher than the one-day total of vaccinations. Beshear said that number increased to 6674 vaccinations as reported Thursday.
