Quicksie 98.3

In a press release sent out Friday afternoon, the Lincoln Trail District Health Department confirmed that Hardin County had experienced its first positive case of COVID-19, the newest strain of coronavirus. The case was notable not only for being the county’s first, but because the patient is a student in the Hardin County School system. 

Since Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on March 6th, three juveniles, including the one in question, have tested positive for the virus, with the most recent coming from Jefferson county just a day prior. After confirming that the patient, a 6-year old, had tested positive for the virus Thursday evening, Governor Beshear explained that while children are not immune to the illness, initial cases have shown that they are resilient.

 
“Their systems, from everything that we’ve seen, take it on and show little to no symptoms,” Beshear stated. 

The same is true with Hardin County’s juvenile case. 

“We know that this student exhibited no symptoms of the virus before we dismissed school last Thursday,” explained district spokesperson John Wright. 

Wright says that the district has already taken proactive steps in the matter, working with the health department to help limit the spread of the virus. 
“We will continue to do what is right to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff in the days and weeks to come.”

The demographics of the patient are not yet known, but will likely be released by Governor Beshear in his press conference Friday evening at 5 p.m.

The Kentucky House of Representatives passed a COVID-19 emergency bill last night before adjourning for a week, according to a social media post from Representative Jim DuPlessis. The bill removes the seven day waiting period for unemployment, extends the maximum amount of weeks of unemployment beyond twenty-six weeks, and allows for employees who have been reduced to part-time to draw a partial benefit. The bill also adds unemployment insurance relief for small businesses. In addition, the bill gives relief from licensing fees and other requirements for occupations and professions required to be licensed under Kentucky law, offers relief from tax filing and payment deadlines under state law to match federal changes, and deems physical therapists as essential health care under Kentucky law.

At the end of today, child care facilities across the Commonwealth will have to close their doors until further notice. As previously reported, Governor Andy Beshear made the decision to close daycares and other childcare facilities on Monday. Beshear stated that exceptions will be granted for workers in the healthcare industry. Childcare centers are just one of numerous closures the Governor has ordered in hopes of limiting the spread of COVID-19. As of yesterday, 2 children had tested for the virus.