COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky

The government announced on 16 March it has applied to the U.S. Small Business Administration for assistance related to the impacts to small businesses. A three-month extension for state drivers licenses was enacted.[9] The state's primary elections were suspended until 23 June.[9]

As of March 11, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. suspended most state court hearings for one month. Federal court hearings had elsewhere been suspended by Danny C. Reeves, Chief U.S. District Judge.[13] Leaders from the Kentucky General Assembly announced that the 2020 session would continue despite warnings about gathering in large groups. In-person meetings with legislators would be restricted only to essential contacts.[9]

A spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Housing Authority advised that they would suspend evictions and set outs.[9] The Louisville Metro Police Department announced they would no longer be responding to certain calls, including hit-and-run, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.[14] The Lexington Fire Department enacted a number of steps, including restricting public access to stations, but were still responding to all emergency calls.[15] State Child Protective Services workers were ordered to limit contact with families except in cases of "imminent risk or high risk-only circumstances".[16]

Due to the large number of people filing new claims, the state's system for registering workers for unemployment insurance crashed as of March 17 and remained down as of March 18.[3]

As of March 18, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet closed all Real ID stations in addition to "all circuit court clerk offices, Kentucky licensing regional field offices, cabinet one-stop shop and cabinet district highway, administrative, maintenance and equipment offices."[17]

As of March 22, there were 103 confirmed cases. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul announced he had tested positive for the virus.[18]

Mayor Greg Fischer of Louisville ordered the closure of playgrounds, basketball courts and soccer fields in the city's parks on March 24.[12]

On March 17 an executive order was announced allowing pharmacists to issue prescriptions for 30 days if they cannot contact a patient's doctor. It also allowed pharmacists to set up and conduct business in areas not covered by the normal permitting process, to increase the ease and availability of mobile operations.[19] Blood donations were substantially impacted as scheduled blood drives were cancelled and the public took measures to avoid public spaces.[20] Adult daycare centers were ordered closed as of March 17.[3]

Initially, religious leaders were upset when Governor Beshear called for all religious services to be halted on March 11, 2020.[21] However, many followed the guideline on Sunday the 14th with even more following by the following Sunday. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington suspended public masses from March 20 until further notice.[22]

By April 4, two churches in Hopkins County had been linked to an outbreak with over 50 cases and 4 deaths.[23]

In college sports, the National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled all winter and spring tournaments, most notably the Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, affecting colleges and universities statewide.[24] On March 16, the National Junior College Athletic Association also canceled the remainder of the winter seasons as well as the spring seasons.[25]

The running of the Kentucky Derby, normally scheduled for the first Saturday in May, was postponed until September. This was the first time in 75 years that the race was rescheduled.[26]

Governor Beshear has a daily public address at 5:00 pm EDT on the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor is joined regularly by an ASL interpreter, Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing Executive Director Virginia Moore, and Dr. Steven Stack, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Public Health. The Governor has come up with several hashtags he wants Kentuckians to use: #TeamKentucky, #TogetherKy, #HealthyatHome, and #Patriot.[27] Some of the common phrases that the Governor uses during these addresses can be purchased on various items to help raise money for Team Kentucky fund started by the Governor to help those who have been hurt financially by the pandemic.[28] The Governor also asks people to light up their house green whenever there are coronavirus deaths in the state that day to honor those that are lost. As part of this, Beshear has ordered the Governor's Mansion and the State Capitol dome illuminated in green on those nights.[29]

Compliance with the Governor's order to wear masks was reported as a "mixed bag" in Louisville.[30] One store in Kentucky denied entry to customers wearing masks.[31][32]