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Standing by for the 4pm briefing with @GovAndyBeshear. Today the governor is expected to announce new, mandatory steps Kentucky will take to slow the spread of COVID-19. Listen on 89.3FM, or follow this thread! (Or watch on Beshear's facebook if you like... comments 
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"We are in very difficult times," Beshear says. But he points to coming vaccines as light at the end of the tunnel. "We just have to make sure that as many people can get there."
Beshear announces 2,753 new cases of coronavirus in KY. The highest 5 days ever have all been in the last week. Today's numbers:
292 new cases are children
9.13% positivity rate
1,553 hospitalized (+32 from yesterday)
359 in ICU (+5)
176 on ventilators (+1)
292 new cases are children
9.13% positivity rate
1,553 hospitalized (+32 from yesterday)
359 in ICU (+5)
176 on ventilators (+1)
15 more Kentuckians have lost their lives, including a 15-year-old girl from Ballard County. She had significant pre-existing conditions, Beshear says, but COVID was a contributing factor in her death.
In the fight against coronavirus, Beshear says, "action is unpopular, but inaction is deadly." He says it's time for KY's third counterattack. The economy will stay open and he emphasizes this is not a shut down. There will be no essential/non-essential business categories.
Step 1: private indoor gatherings are now limited to your household and one other household, not to exceed 8 people. This is in effect Nov 20 at 5pm through Dec 13 at 11:59pm.
Step 2: At indoor venues, event spaces or theaters, no more than 25 people per room.
Step 3: No more indoor dining at bars and restaurants. Delivery and to-go are ok. Outdoor service is ok if safety measure are followed. Packed patios will result in further restrictions, Beshear says. (Nov 20-Dec 13)
Beshear says he realizes many of our restaurants and bars are small businesses with people's futures wrapped up in them. A $40 million fund will assist them. Qualifying entities will receive $10,000 for various expenses. Entities may not be owned by a publicly traded company.
Beshear says KY gyms must be at 33% occupancy or less with no group classes allowed. Masks are required in gyms.
Beshear: All indoor sports facilities are closed to group activities. Individual lessons are allowed if masks are worn. (He points to cheerleading gyms and martial arts studios as an example.) 33% occupancy limit applies to pools and bowling alleys too.
Beshear says in professional spaces, you must work from home if able. Offices must not be more than 33% occupied at any given time.
Big school news: Beshear says all public and private K-12 schools in KY must cease in-person classes as of Nov 23. Middle and high schools will be remote until Jan 4. Elementary may reopen Dec 7 if their county is not a red zone & if they're following healthy at school guidance.
Kentucky public colleges and universities have all agreed to stay remote for the rest of the year. Beshear says they're urging private universities to follow suit.
Beshear says they're not asking hospitals to postpone elective procedures, but hospitals are deciding on their own as needed. The new restrictions don't apply to retail, but there will be a re-emphasis on enforcing safety precautions in retail spaces.
"I can't wait to undo every order that I've had to do," Beshear says. And he believes it will be a matter of months. "This may be the last counter-offensive that we have to mount."
A very emotional Dr. Steven Stack is emphasizing how important it is to stop the coronavirus at the plateau it's in now. He says if we can just hold the wave off until spring, "we have a fighting chance."
Q: What's the plan to enforce the new restrictions? Beshear: They're easier to enforce - you can easily see if a restaurant's dining room is closed. Local health officials will help. Places that don't follow the rules could lose their license & won't be eligible for $40m fund.
Q: Is there any KY specific data linking outbreaks to bars/restaurants? Beshear: One health district had 36 clusters related to restaurants alone. National data shows evidence restaurants are large spreaders. Why would it be different in KY? We know how it spreads.
Q: Yesterday Stack said mask mandate led to 11-week plateau. Mandate is still in place, so why did increase happen? Beshear: Enforcement of the mandate became almost non-existent. It's that simple.
Q: Do you regret your approach toward Halloween? Beshear: I believe we did the best we could with what people were going to do. Many neighborhoods followed guidance.
Q: Any data on # of KY health care workers sick or quarantined? Beshear: We track # sick but not quarantined. I don't have that in front of me but we'll get it to you.
Q: What did legislative leaders say about these new changes? Beshear: We agreed that we keep those conversations to ourselves until 5 o'clock, so I'll honor that.
Q: Rules on restaurant tents and outdoor seating? Beshear: It's allowable but only if you can keep 6ft between tables and seated parties must be comprised of people from no more than two different households.
Q: How can you enforce rules on private gatherings? Beshear: It's almost impossible to enforce rules on private gatherings. That's where we need people to be on the same team and follow the rules. If you're in a big meeting or having a party you're part of the problem.
Q: Is it premature to rule out another shut down? Beshear: I don't think it's on the table. We know so much more about the virus. Our economy is open & these new steps will allow us to keep it open.
Q: What can you say to people who still haven't bought in? Beshear: If you have extra ideas or any good ideas, we'll take 'em. A quarter of a million Americans are dead. We're at war with an enemy we can't see. The virus is real, and everybody should know that by now.
Gov. Beshear says he hopes anyone who hears about a COVID death and shrugs it off as "that person was already old" reads their bible, talks to their pastor and thinks about their own humanity.
Q: Did you consult w any local officials in this decision? Beshear: We consulted w Dept of Public Health, local health directors & the White House guidance. We briefed local leaders today so they would hear it from us, not the press.
Q: Rupp Arena, Yum Center, what are their capacity limits for fans? Beshear: Today's announcement doesn't change current rule: 15% capacity limit with safety precaution enforcement.
Beshear: We're gonna fight this. The fight is won by everybody making good decisions and doing their part. These are good decisions based on good science and data. Let's make this work. Over the next 3 weeks let's have a major impact on stopping this exponential growth.
Beshear: We're not going to let another 25 veterans die who fought for us. Not any more. Not anymore. We need everyone to buckle down. This is all of our duties. This is the most difficult battle we will ever fight. It's a matter of life and death.
Beshear: We need your help. Even if you don't agree with these steps, we need your help. None of us want to look back on this pandemic and say we gave up. And say there's more we could have done. This is our commonwealth. We're on Team KY.
Beshear: If you open your eyes, ears and heart, you will see the level of suffering that's out there. Let's make sure we don't add to it. We're not too far from the light at the end of the tunnel. Be safe, everybody. Be safe. Please take care of each other. That's our test.
