Gov. Beshear Hails $1 Million Gift To Team Kentucky Fund, PPE Donations

Governor praises Kentuckians for making essential contributions in fight against COVID-19.

(Frankfort, Ky.) – Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday highlighted the hard work, donations and good deeds of Kentuckians in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Governor announced that the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels is making the largest gift in the storied organization’s history: $1 million to the Team Kentucky Fund.

“Thank you to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for once again stepping up and assisting fellow Kentuckians when they need it the most,” Gov. Beshear said. “This generous donation will help Kentuckians with rent, utilities and other needs after they have had their lives turned upside down by this devastating epidemic. I have said repeatedly we will get through this together and the Kentucky Colonels are making that journey easier for some struggling Kentuckians.”

He urged others to follow the Kentucky Colonels’ lead and donate to the Team Kentucky Fund.

“Our trustees decided to take a leadership position with this specific $1 million donation to the Team Kentucky Fund when Gov. Beshear called upon Kentuckians to come together and help provide aid and hope where it’s most urgently needed,” said Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (HOKC) Executive Director Col. Sherry Crose. “Kentucky Colonels are honoring the historic heritage of caring which began with assistance with the Great Flood of 1937.”

“Every part of Kentucky has to do their part, and we are seeing that,” the Governor said.

Gov. Beshear also talked about his administration’s continuing efforts to obtain personal protective equipment (PPE) for the commonwealth’s health care providers.

He said purchasing the equipment has become nearly impossible as the federal government snaps up limited supplies and ramping up manufacturing here takes time. Donations, however, are the way to bridge the gap, and the Governor said people and companies here are answering the call.

“Kentuckians, you are coming through,” the Governor said.

Gov. Beshear said the state currently has the following PPE stocks on-hand: 4.2 million gloves, 355,000 surgical masks, more than 153,000 face shields, 37,000 gowns, more than 5,000 coveralls, and more than 279,000 respirator masks.

Dr. Steven Stack, Commissioner of the Department for Public Health, said the numbers may look large, but the nature of equipment means it is meant for single or very limited uses.

“A thing that’s good to remember is that all of these or virtually all of these are meant to be disposable. They’re intended to be used once, then discarded,” Dr. Stack said. “So, they look like big numbers in some areas but normally when we operate in a hospital or health care center, you’re required to use these items for one patient in order to minimize infection spread for other causes.”

Gov. Beshear also urged anyone who is able to donate PPE at [giveppe.ky.gov]giveppe.ky.gov or by calling 833-GIVE-PPE (448-3773).

“We need a lot more, a lot more every day,” the Governor said.

Unemployment insurance update
Gov. Beshear and Josh Benton, deputy secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, provided an update on the unprecedented number of jobless claims in the commonwealth.

“We are processing more claims than ever before and sending out more payments than ever before. But I know that many of you out there still haven’t gotten the service that you need. That is our fault and we are working through it,” the Governor said. “We will help, we will get to you and we will explain the glitches as they come in a transparent and honest manner.”

Deputy Secretary Benton described a system scaling up to meet the demand. The total claims made since March 16 stands at 521,592, he said. A total of 453,025 Kentuckians were paid benefits since April 5, totaling $149,820,796. And since April 9, the number of Kentucky recipients getting the additional $600 per week stands at 156,931 individuals with payouts totaling $139,146,602.

Deputy Secretary Benton also talked about the top reasons that claims have been tied up in the system. He said the most common reason is the claim is still within the 13 to 15 day window since filing.

“Just a reminder to folks that after you file a claim, that first payment comes automatically, typically within 13 to 15 days,” he said. “There’s no need to request payment or to refile if you don’t see it right away.”

Sometimes a request for initial payment or opening an additional claim also slows the process. In addition, he said ID verification and claim investigations can take time.

Drive-through testing
Gov. Beshear continued to encourage Kentuckians in Franklin County and contiguous counties to sign up for drive-through testing as part of a partnership with Kroger.

People can register for the next two days of testing at thelittleclinic.com/drivethru-testing, or call 888-852-2567 (select option 1, then option 3). He said they were hoping to get 250 or more tests done each of the next two days.

Testing eligibility parameters were being loosened to allow more people to qualify. Where previously to qualify you needed to be a health care worker or in a defined high-risk category, now people presenting certain symptoms will be tested.

Gov. Beshear also announced a second drive-through testing site in partnership with Kroger would open Wednesday in Kenton County. The site has a daily testing goal of 250 a day and Kentuckians can sign up through the same website and phone number as provided for the Franklin County site.

The testing is done free of charge. The overall goal of the partnership is to conduct 20,000 tests over the next five weeks. Test results are expected within approximately 48 hours.

Case information
As of 5 p.m. April 14, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 2,210 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 177 of which were newly confirmed.

Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear also reported 11 new deaths Tuesday, raising the state’s toll to 115 deaths related to the virus.

“Those are 11 Kentuckians whose families and communities love them. Even one loss is a loss to all of us. Since we passed 100 yesterday we’ve been flying our flags at half-staff here in the Capitol, and keep lighting up your homes,” said Gov. Beshear, who asks Kentuckians to join him in lighting their homes and businesses green tonight in honor of the lives lost, as a continued sign of compassion and renewal.

The newly reported deaths include a 50-year-old woman from Adair County; two women from Campbell County, ages 88 and 89; an 87-year-old woman from Jackson County; an 89-year-old woman and two men, ages 74 and 84, from Jefferson County; a 68-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman from Kenton County; a 61-year-old man from Laurel County and a 76-year-old woman from Lincoln County.

Gov. Beshear said the 50-year-old from Adair is the first known health care worker to die of coronavirus in Kentucky.

“So for everybody out there that says this isn’t real, this person gave their life to protect others,” the Governor said. “While she’s gone to a better place, these people are taken from us here on Earth, forever.”

On Tuesday, Gov. Beshear honored Joyce Scobee, 75, of Meade County, who died on Wednesday from the coronavirus, according to a moving tribute in The News-Enterprise. The Governor said Joyce and her family are a perfect example that the statistics he reads are more than numbers – they are Kentucky families and communities who have lost a loved one.

“She loved everyone and everyone loved her,” Joyce’s daughter Laura told The News-Enterprise.

At least 653 people have recovered from COVID-19 in Kentucky. Gov. Beshear said among the recovered were two people who became ill at Western State Hospital.

To date, at least 27,697 people have been tested. At least 687 people have ever been hospitalized with 305 currently hospitalized. At least 263 have ever been in the ICU with at least 137 people currently in the ICU.

“Let’s think about those folks. They call it an intensive-care unit for a reason. And most people going into intensive care are coming out,” the Governor said. “And that’s because our health care professionals and our hospital systems are doing an amazing job. In fact, they have really beaten the model on how many days someone was going to be hospitalized that has this. And that, that has gone a long way to helping our hospital capacity.”

Gov. Beshear also offered an update on the racial breakdown of COVID-19 patients, which has been the subject of news stories across the country.

The Governor said with about 72% of the known cases accounted for, 81.03% of Kentuckians who tested positive were Caucasian, 11.23% were African-American, 4.41% were multiracial, 2.96% were Asian and 0.97% were Native American, Alaskan Native or Native Hawaiian.

On fatalities attributed to the coronavirus, with about 84% of the known cases accounted for, Kentucky deaths are about 76.04% Caucasian, 22.92% African-American and 1.04% Asian.

More information
The Governor is asking all Kentuckians to continue to fight the spread of the virus by following his 10-step guidance, which includes practicing social distancing and staying healthy at home. Gov. Beshear says these efforts have the potential to save the lives of as many as 11,000 Kentuckians.

Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Watch the Governor’s social media accounts at 5 p.m. ET each day for his regular briefing.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages people to follow these steps to prevent illness. Kentuckians who want advice can call the state hotline at 800-722-5725 or call their local health care provider.