A first-term Kentucky lawmaker has introduced a resolution seeking to end Governor Beshear’s COVID-19 state of emergency. It was put in place through executive order on March sixth, 2020. Nicholasville GOP Senator Donald Douglas said his resolution calls for the state of emergency to end on March seventh.
“Some will say that this emergency certainly saved lives….well…others will say that the changes that were forced by this emergency caused great harm,” said Douglas.
Douglas noted the harm can be seen in the economy and within the education system.
Louisville Democratic Senator Karen Berg said she takes issue with comments about California ending its state of emergency. Berg noted California’s positivity rate is at 5.7% and vaccination rate at about 70%. She added Kentucky’s positivity rate is over 15% and vaccination overall at 56%.
“Therein lies the rub. If we could get those numbers up and we could get our positivity rate down, I could so be behind the resolution this morning. But, we have some work to do to get there,” said Berg.
A spokeswoman for the governor said there are more than 300 Kentucky National Guard members assisting overwhelmed hospitals and 700 COVID-related death were reported last month.
Douglas said the March seventh date allows time for the governor to work with the legislature on an end to the state of emergency while lawmakers are still in session.
