The state updated its “Healthy at Work” requirements on Monday, guidelines that state officials argue aim to keep all employees and their families safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Healthy at Work minimum requirements list has been simplified and now applies to all businesses, Governor Andy Beshear said.
“We have fought really hard to get where we are – a much better place than in the fall and winter – allowing us to streamline some of our guidance,” said Beshear. “I hope people are able to enjoy some of these capacity increases. We can do so safely if we continue to wear our masks.”
The minimum requirements list includes specifications for:
- Physical distancing;
- Facial coverings;
- Hand washing and sanitizing;
- Ventilation;
- Telework;
- Common areas; and
- Daily temperature/health checks.
Events with 1,000 or fewer people in a single space are limited to 60% capacity, or the maximum number of people that allows for physical distancing. Events with more than 1,000 people in a single space are limited to 50% capacity, or the maximum number of people that allows for physical distancing.
Only a few types of businesses still have supplemental Healthy at Work requirements: health care facilities; wedding, funeral or memorial service venues; restaurants and bars; pools and bathing facilities; and gyms, sports and exercise activities.
“What we’re doing today is simplifying our guidance so it’s easier for Kentuckians to follow and easier for them to stay safe,” said Dr. Stack. “I look forward to the day when we put COVID behind us and none of these requirements are necessary. The way we get there is for everyone to make the choice to get vaccinated. These vaccines are amazing tools to help us get our lives back.”
Beshear also said that black and Hispanic Kentuckians are no longer disproportionately represented among the commonwealth’s COVID-19 deaths.
“I’m proud to report in our newest statistics, we have now either achieved proportionate or even disproportionately low numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths among most groups of minority Kentuckians,” said Beshear. “For instance, Black and African-American Kentuckians make up 8.4% of the state’s population; to date, they make up only 8% of all of Kentucky’s COVID-19 cases and 8.1% of Kentucky’s COVID-19 deaths. This used to be 16% and it’s been cut in half.”
Meanwhile, the state announced 231 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, including 18 in Northern Kentucky. There were 11 cases announced Kenton Co., 6 in Boone Co., and 1 in Campbell Co. Grant and Pendleton counties each reported no cases on Monday.
However, a 61-year old man from Pendleton Co. was among the four new COVID deaths reported Monday.
The ongoing audit of previous death certificates also included a new addition to the COVID death tolls from Northern Kentucky: a 93-year old man from Boone Co.
The state’s positivity rate is 3.46% as of Monday.
There are currently 402 people hospitalized, including 121 in intensive care units and 43 on ventilators.
-Staff report
Image shows the incidence rate in local counties, which is calculated by the number of daily positive cases per 100,000 people over seven days