As the Christmas approaches, Kentucky will restrict visits to long-term care facilities due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Of Kentucky's 120 counties, 103 are now in the “Red Zone” of critical spread, with more than 25 cases per 100,000 people.
Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander said long-term care facilities will impose new restrictions, including limits on communal dining, group activities, and holiday visits.
“If somebody leaves the ability and comes back in, we are going to ask them to quarantine,” Friedlander said. “And we're asking, please, consider sacrificing getting together for that holidays, so we're not sacrificing our parents and our grandparents.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed 1,514 new cases Monday, making it the second-highest Monday on record.
Gov. Beshear warned that further restrictions on businesses could come in a few days. He explained those restrictions won't be similar to those announced early in the year. Hospitalizations on Monday climbed to at least one,442. Three new deaths were also reported Monday.
A new outbreak in a correctional facility in Lee County has infected a lot more than 434 inmates.
Secretary of the Executive Cabinet J. Michael Brown said the Lee Adjustment Center has not completed testing.
“Our fear is frankly that people haven't completely finished testing the ability,” Brown said. “That facility houses over 700 inmates, therefore we know that more than 1 / 2 of them have tested positive for COVID.”