Broader reopening of Kentucky to begin early May, Gov. Beshear announces

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX19) - A broader reopening of the state will start on May 11 according to Governor Andy Beshear.

Week-by-week starting on May 11, the governor says Kentucky will be working on a gradual lessening of restrictions to work towards a broader Phase One reopening of the state.

Gov. Beshear didn’t offer specific details on what businesses you can expect to reopen initially, but he did say “work can’t be the same” when you go back.

Businesses must maintain social distancing, continue to work from home if possible, and masks inside the workplace will be mandatory.

Details on which and when businesses can start reopening will be announced later this week, but it won’t be bars, clubs, or childcare services.

The governor said bars and clubs would not be opening until June.

Childcare and youth activities, according to Gov. Beshear, will not return in May.

Governor Beshear did give more details for the reopening of healthcare services on Monday though.

A four-phase plan to reopen the state’s healthcare services was announced by the governor during his news conference.

The first phase, which started April 27, allows healthcare services to resume non-urgent/emergent healthcare services, diagnostic treatments, radiology, and lab services in:

• Hospital outpatient settings
• Healthcare clinics and medical officers
• Physical therapy settings and chiropractic offices
• Optometrists
• Dental offices (with enhanced aerosol protections)

Phase two will begin on Wednesday, May 6 allowing for outpatient/ambulatory surgery and invasive procedures to resume.

Healthcare facilities and providers must meet these guidelines:

• All patients must have COVID-19 pre-procedure testing per professional association and Kentucky Department of Public Health (KDPH) guidance
• Each facility must maintain a 14-day supply of all PPE bases on projected 14-day burn rate for the entire facility
• Type and timing of cases will be determined by facility-specific procedure prioritization and oversight committee
• For acute care hospitals: Maintain at least 30 percent bed capacity. per facility surge plan, in both ICU and total beds for COVID-19 patients

Phase three will start a week later on May 13.

This phase includes the same guidelines as the previous one, except for one difference.

Under phase three, non-emergent and non-urgent inpatient surgery and procedures can resume at 50 percent capacity shutdown volume.

Phase four will be rolled out on May 27.

Like phases two and three, this final phase includes the same guidelines except for change.

Non-emergent and non-urgent inpatient surgery and procedures may begin at volume determined by each facility.

On Monday, Gov. Beshear announced 87 more coronavirus cases in Kentucky, including 10 new ones in the northern counties.

• Boone County - Two new cases, 114 total
• Campbell County - Four new cases, 79 total
• Grant County - Zero new cases, 17 total
• Kenton County - Four new cases, 210 total

Overall, Kentucky now has 4,146 coronavirus cases.

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