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FRANKFORT, Ky. – Tuesday marked another day in which Kentucky reported more than 1,000 coronavirus cases.
Gov. Andy Beshear reported 1,054 new cases Tuesday, saying that if the cases continue to rise, the state will crack down on people who don’t follow the rules.
“We saw with the latest escalation that we have the power to stop it if we just do what we know works, and that’s wearing a mask, engaging in social distancing,” Beshear said.
Beshear on Tuesday renewed a mandate requiring masks in many public spaces.
He also said the state plans to dispatch inspectors from multiple state agencies to make sure restrictions are followed and that local governments will likely help.
Businesses can face fines or closures if they don’t comply, but Beshear said they should only focus on turning away customers who don’t wear masks.
“Once again, I know that it is a difficulty for some companies that they are going to have some angry people, but it is not the fault of the company. I put the mandate of the mask, all they are doing is enforcing, ”said Beshear. “And they can tell that person that they need to do that to protect their business, but we need that to happen because if we keep shooting, if 6,000 cases (per week) is just a halfway point where we are going, those companies will have no one left. in them “.
Kentucky reported 6,126 cases last week, most of the cases the state has reported in a single week.
All of this comes as President Donald Trump announces that he will not negotiate a new coronavirus aid package with Congress until after the election.
Beshear said a delay in new aid would be devastating and far-reaching.
“If they can’t sit down and accept a package that helps Kentuckians and helps Americans through this, what a shame, and I don’t even see the Senate engage them in negotiations. Shame on them too.
In Washington, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he agrees with the president’s stance on the coronavirus negotiations.
“I think [the president’s] The view was that they were not going to produce a result, and we need to focus on what can be achieved, ”McConnell said.
President Trump said he wants the Senate to focus on confirming his nomination to the US Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett.
