Coronavirus USA Update: Kentucky Patient Fully Recovers From COVID-19

On Wednesday, Kentucky announced a welcome respite from a sudden spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases that stunned it Tuesday. Gov. Andy Beshear reported no new confirmed cases of the disease Wednesday, after two more cases Tuesday brought to eight the number of COVID-19 patients in the Bluegrass State.

Speaking from the state capital at Frankfort, Beshear also said all eight patients are stable and some are close to recovery. Of the eight, five cases are in Harrison County, two in Fayette County and one in Jefferson County.

"Everybody is in stable condition, and we actually hope here in the next couple days that one of our Harrison County residents will be fully out of the woods, no longer infectious," said Beshear.

Kentucky tested 11 cases on Wednesday. Of this total, 10 were negative and one was inconclusive. On Tuesday morning, there were six confirmed coronavirus cases in Kentucky -- three in Harrison County, two in Fayette County and one in Jefferson County. On Tuesday evening, the total for Harrison County had risen to five. Beshear said all five Harrison County patients are linked in various ways, and said this isn't a singular link.

"We are trying to make the best decisions we can with the information we have," according to Beshear.

More than 200 people in the state are in self-isolation. State health authorities said most of these people aren't currently showing COVID-19 symptoms and are at low-risk of catching the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, the governor also signed an executive order allowing pharmacists to fill prescriptions for 30 days without a doctor's permission. This move will make it easier for medical professionals to treat COVID-19 patients. The order allows pharmacists to set-up mobile stations if the need arises.

To further clamp-down on the disease's spread, Kentucky is pushing ahead with a raft of recommendations. It's encouraging churches of all faiths to cancel services this weekend and intends to temporarily end visitations to state prisons. It also plans to ask private and public schools to prepare short-notice closing plans should this need arise. Beshear also wants Kentucky employers to allow their employees to work from home whenever possible.

In addition, Beshear again advises people to avoid large crowds like the Girls Sweet 16 underway this week and the boys games next week. He also asked people 60 and older or with heart, lung or kidney issues to not go to crowded events.

“We want to be prepared, want to be sure kids get the meals they need and the care that they need," said Beshear.

“I don’t believe that whether you go to church during this time is a test of faith, I believe God gives us wisdom to protect each other, and we should do that," Beshear pointed out. “And I am going to recommend that churches cancel their services for this weekend.”

He again asked Kentuckians to follow safety guidelines spelled-out by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).