Governor Beshear and State Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack have outlined a phased-in schedule for hospitals to gear up for a more traditional schedule of surgeries and procedures.
Even at phase four the end of May where elective and emergency surgeries are expected to return to closer to pre-coronavirus levels, Dr. Stack stressed health care facilities must reserve some capacity for COVID-19 patients. And Stack said it will be important to not become complacent. “Just because the disease right now seems to be at a plateau it is not time to feel that you are safe. It’s not time to feel that this is not still a serious threat. This is exactly the time that we are at risk for the greatest harm if people start to get lax about complying with things we ask you to do,” said Stack.
Governor Beshear also announced plans for re-opening other businesses. During his nightly briefing , the governor stressed it will be a gradual, measured, and possibly adjusted schedule. He said it’s anticipated to begin May 11th when everyone in public and workers in businesses should wear cloth masks. “Every week thereafter for four weeks we’re going to gradually ease some restrictions, bring some groups or some industries back online. It gives us time to get the right compliance, restrictions, guidelines in place industry by industry,” explained Beshear
The governor reported 87 new coronavirus cases and five deaths. Beshear noted the number of new cases could be artificially low, coming out of weekend testing.
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