Number of new cases continues to rise
By TONY FYFFE
BSN Editor
A total of 845 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Lawrence, Johnson, Floyd and Martin counties between Tuesday, Aug. 31, and Monday, Sept. 6.
New cases included 173 in Lawrence County, 207 in Johnson County, 351 in Lawrence County and 114 in Martin County.
Lawrence County, through its health department, was the only local county to release a daily COVID-19 report for Monday, which was Labor Day, by press time Tuesday.
The Johnson County Health Department reported three additional coronavirus-related deaths during the week, including on each Aug. 31, Sept. 1 and Sept. 3.
“This makes 13 deaths just since August 1st, which accounts for 30% of our total deaths since the pandemic began,” said in a Facebook post Aug. 31. “Please continue to turn on your green lights and remember these families in your thoughts and prayers.”
On the same day, the Floyd County Health Department said it ended August with 1,411 new cases, which is “our highest month since COVID began.”
Floyd County Public Health Director Thursa Sloan said Sept. 1 that “August was a hard month for our community,” noting that the county lost 11 residents to COVID-19.
“Doubt and misinformation continue to influence people in a negative way as many are not wearing masks, getting the vaccine or doing anything that would slow the spread of this virus,” Sloan said. “As the virus continues to spread, sickness and loss of life will continue. I talked with so many who wished they had gotten the vaccine, who wished they had worn a mask, stayed home, taken this more seriously. Well it's time to act. If we want a better outcome we must fight for it with what we have: vaccines, masks, changes in lifestyle, increased sanitation, and perhaps most of all a love and concern for our people and the place we call home.”
Floyd, Lawrence, Johnson and Martin counties remain in the red on the state’s incidence rate map with rates of 147.7, 130.6, 106.2 and 117.4, respectively, as of Friday.
With coronavirus cases on the rise in Kentucky, state lawmakers returned to Frankfort Tuesday for the start of a special legislative session called by Gov. Andy Beshear to extend the pandemic state of emergency.
“This is one of the most dangerous times we’ve experienced this entire pandemic, with the delta variant burning through Kentucky and taking more of our loved ones and neighbors,” Beshear said. “It’s also overwhelming more and more of our hospitals and shutting down our schools,” the Governor said. “We need as many tools as possible to fight this deadly surge in order to save lives, keep our children in school and keep our economy churning.”
Beshear is asking lawmakers to consider legislation to address several topics, including extending the state of emergency until Jan. 15, 2022; setting forth the criteria regarding the Governor’s authority to require facial coverings in indoor settings in certain circumstances; providing additional flexibility for school districts; and making an appropriation from the American Rescue Plan Act to support mitigation and prevention activities, such as testing and vaccine distribution.