Governor Andy Beshear announced that Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance will provide wage replacement benefits to first responders who have to be quarantined due to coronavirus.
The agency, known as KEMI, is the state’s largest issuer of workers' compensation insurance and contracts with many state agencies.
Beshear said that first responders shouldn’t lose money for doing their jobs.
“That should also give confidence to our healthcare employees that are out there, that we’re asking them to do this. If they end up having to be at home because of their work we’re going to take care of them,” said Beshear.
During an update Friday morning, Beshear said that Kentucky has 11 confirmed cases of coronavirus, but that the number will likely go up once more testing is conducted.
Beshear also announced that he was issuing a guidance to all state boards and commissions to stop holding in-person meetings and to conduct business via teleconference.
He said that he had consulted with the Kentucky Press Association and that holding meetings remotely would comply with the state’s open meetings laws.
