FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVF) — Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced another COVID-19 death in the state, as well as 87 confirmed cases total, in a Saturday update.
This is Kentucky's third death due to the novel strain of the coronavirus. Governor Beshear said the latest death was a 67-year-old man from Anderson County, who had other contributing health factors.
Beshear said the Kentucky Governor's Mansion will light up green tonight in the patient's memory, as well as for any future coronavirus deaths.
"Green is the color of compassion, it's the color of empathy, it's also a color of renewal. I know it seems small, but I hope lighting up that building in that way lets people know we are thinking about them, that we care about them, that we love every single Kentuckian around us, and we will do everything we can to not have to make these types of announcements."
The governor said the state's confirmed case count is 87, an increase of 20 since Friday's update. He said they've expected increases like this, as more testing has become available.
Governor Beshear shared that one of the state's adolescent patients, a 6-year-old, had been discharged from the hospital and is doing well.
He also encouraged small businesses impacted by the pandemic to apply for federal assistance, due to the government's approval of disaster fund loans for small businesses there.
Earlier this week Governor Beshear ordered additional measures to ensure social distancing, including a ban on mass gatherings and dining in at restaurants.
He called for schools to remain closed through at least April 20 and pushed back the tax filing deadline to July 15.
"I want to underscore that this coronavirus is serious, it is changing our daily lives, and it is incredibly important we do everything we can not to spread it."
