Carona Virus News Budget for Thursday, March 19, 2020
Kentucky Press Assn.
Louisville Courier Journal
House member pans ‘mass hysteria’ over COVID-19, urges Kentucky to continue normal lives
State Rep. Jim Gooch received applause from fellow Republicans after a House floor speech Wednesday defending the legislature’s decision to continue meeting amid the pandemic, urging Kentuckians to continue living their lives as normal. While some have called on the Kentucky General Assembly to join the 21 state legislatures that have postponed legislative sessions — abiding by the White House recommendation to avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people — the Republican supermajority is pushing forward with the session, scheduled to last until April 15. Following a floor speech by a Democratic member who said the body continuing to meet was “whistling past the graveyard” and setting a bad example for the public, Gooch spoke up to say that would be an overreaction and “like a captain abandoning ship.”
Winchester Sun
Second case of COVID-19 confirmed in Clark County
There has been a second confirmed case of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, in Clark County. Wednesday evening about 6:20 p.m., Clark County Public Health Director Becky Kissick said there had been a second postive test, but could not give any information about the patient such as age or gender or whether they were in a health care facility or at home. About an hour before Kissick confirmed the case, Clark County Judge-Executive Chris Pace had posted on his official Facebook page that there had been a second positive case and that it was “believed to be connected to the first case announced on Sunday.” However, no one from the Health Department has corroborated that information.
Louisville Courier Journal
Kentucky coronavirus update: State sees 35 total cases, including baby and one death
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday morning announced Kentucky’s first death caused by the coronavirus: a 66-year-old man in Bourbon County. Beshear had said Sunday one of the state’s 35 patients was in “pretty bad shape” and might not survive. He noted “multiple factors” led to the patient’s condition. As of Wednesday evening, Beshear said there are six confirmed cases from Harrison County, six in Fayette County, 11 in Jefferson County, two each in Montgomery, Clark and Bourbon counties, and one each in Lyon, Nelson, Kenton, Franklin and Warren counties. Beshear did not offer a county for one of the state’s 35 cases.
Louisville Courier Journal
The coronavirus pandemic has Kentucky’s secretary of state thinking about mail-in voting
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams knew by Monday morning what had to be done to address concerns about the upcoming election. As other states announced they were pushing their presidential primaries back in response to COVID-19, the Republican official began polling election officials. Adams spoke with his staff, the State Board of Elections and county clerks over the weekend. He admits they weren’t all in favor of moving the Bluegrass State’s primary from May 19 to June 23, but all understood the need.
