Staff reportGovernor Andy Beshear asked for Kentuckians to step up their social distancing efforts as Kentucky saw its largest single-day number of new coronavirus cases Friday.

Beshear reported 242 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 1,693. There were also 11 more deaths reported, bringing the state to 90 since the pandemic began.

“Any individual who is going to participate in a mass gathering of any type that we know about this weekend, we are going to have Kentucky State Police record license plates and provide them to local health departments. The local health departments are going to come to your door with an order for you to be quarantined for 14 days at their home,” said Beshear.

During his daily Capitol briefing, Beshear said days like this prove Kentucky is dealing with a deadly virus.

“Even with everything we’re doing, even with changing our economy, changing our daily lives,” he said.  “It would be so much more deadly if you weren’t doing what you’re doing.”

Beshear thanked the faith community for canceling in-person Easter Sunday services in favor of holding them online. He said there are only about seven churches across the state who plan to ignore the state ban on mass gatherings and their intentions prompted involving state police.

“This is the only way that we can ensure that your decision doesn’t kill somebody else. That your decision doesn’t spread the coronavirus in your county and your community. That your decision to go to a mass gathering doesn’t negate the sacrifice of every other house of worship, 99.99 percent in this state, that are choosing to do the right thing.”

The governor previously said restrictions do not include drive-up services, only those being held inside the church.

Beshear also announced the formation of a long-term care facility task force to work on cutting down the number of cases and deaths in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities across Kentucky.

“We have 37 new cases among residents just since yesterday,” he said, “38 new cases involving staff, with two new deaths,” bringing the total at those facilities to 141 residents and 86 staff members, and 18 deaths.

Despite having to release the grim numbers and the quarantine warning, the governor said he had some good news to report.

“We have had at least 464 Kentuckians recovered, which is 27 percent. We believe the number is larger, but this is the number we can currently confirm.”

Beshear said there will be some tough days ahead, and had this advice: “Be strong, be resilient. We will get through this and we will get through this together.”

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Into the holiday weekend, it is critical that everyone maintain social distancing and stay healthy at home. Our celebrations may look different this year, but this is what we must do to win the fight against COVID-19.

According to Dr. Lynne Saddler, District Director of Health, “Just because we have to be apart physically during this holiday weekend doesn’t mean that we can’t remain connected to our family and friends.” Here are some ways you can celebrate with your loved ones remotely during this time:

Tom Latek of Kentucky Today contributed to this report. 

KY GOP Statement on Gov. Beshear’s License Plate Order

FRANKFORT, KY – The Republican Party of Kentucky issued the following statement in response to Gov. Andy Beshear’s order to collect license plate numbers at gatherings this weekend:

“Governor Beshear’s order for state police to stalk churchgoers and turn their information over to government agents is a blatant overreach,” Republican Party of Kentucky spokesman Mike Lonergan said. “We all want to keep working together to fight the coronavirus, but this is the wrong approach. The Governor and his administration should retract this overbearing use of government power and come up with another way to work with churches to discourage in-person gatherings and help faith communities follow the proper CDC guidelines – without such draconian measures.”