LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — There are 679 new cases of COVID-19 in the state of Kentucky.
Governor Andy Beshear made the announcement during a Friday afternoon news conference. There have been 38,298 cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky since the start of the pandemic.
There are 656 Kentuckians in the hospital for COVID-19; 147 are in the ICU, and 97 are on a ventilator. There is a 5.68% positivity rate in the state.
77 of the new cases involve those under the age of 18.
"In my core, I want to get our kids back in class, I want to get my kids back in class," said Gov. Beshear. "My job is to tell people when I don't believe it's safe even if it's unpopular, and even if it makes people call you names ... it is my job to make sure I do the very best I can for Kentuckians."
The governor also announced eight more people have died from COVID-19, all of which are women. They include:
- 83-year-old woman from Jefferson County
- 85-year-old woman from Bell County
- 82-year-old woman from Franklin County
- 92-year-old woman from Franklin County
- 85-year-old woman from Casey County
- 75-year-old woman from Hopkins County
- 77-year-old woman from Lewis County
- 63-year-old woman from Christian County
