Good morning. It is our 9 a.m. update on the Corona virus. Let me start. Well, we start. We will get through this, we're gonna have to disrupt each and every one of our lives. There's gonna be, ah, lot of changes as we move forward. But we are going to make it through this now to make it through this the way that we want to protecting the maximum number of people we need each and every Kentucky and help. I want you as you think about this Corona virus to truly internalize that we all have a duty to do everything we can that it takes to beat this virus. This is our duty is Kentucky INS. This is our patriotic duty. That's where we are. And to me, it is our Christian duty toe help our fellow man and woman. So make sure that you are following the type of practices that we need so that we can ultimately protect Kentucky ends to the very best degree. A nature help. I know that there is anxiety out there. I know a lot of it is spread through social media, so I want your help. I want to fill social media with the positive things that we should be doing and whether that is helping a neighbor, whether it is being a good shopper and not taking more than you need, whether that is ordering takeout to support small businesses, whether that is canceling a meeting or an event, I want people to start talking about their duty and living their patriotic duty on social media. We got a couple of hash tags that we want you to start using. Kenneth, if you could pull those up, we've talked about all being a part of the same team. One hashtag is Team Kentucky from the second hashtag is together k y. We need to model really good citizenship, and we need to understand that it is all of our jobs to do what it takes to protect our people. Kentucky and you are great people. We need you to be the very best people that you can be in. How we address this. Got a couple of folks that are here with us today, um, Judge Chris Pace from Clark County and the Clark County Health Department. Rebecca kissing their here, showing their solidarity now that we have a confirmed case in Clark County. Their leadership, like leadership and all of our communities, is so critical. We appreciate our local officials and everything that they're doing and our health departments are amazing and thank goodness for them. We appreciate their work. They're gonna be even more important in the coming days. I want to repeat again. It is our civic duty to do everything that we can, um two, make sure that we are living up to our patriotic duty and that we're following all the instructions that we get. Here's one of the reasons that it's so important. Um, today were reporting that we lost the individual that we knew was in bad shape. They are the Bourbon County resident. They have passed away. I want to give my sympathies to that family, and I hope everybody out there is praying for him. Bill System from Baptist Health. Lexington. Also since his absolute best. This is why it's important. There were numerous factors that led to this point. The Corona virus was only a factor. But what it means is that it's very important that we all do our patriotic duty as we move forward to model. The type of behavior that we need, my family and every Kentucky in is lifting up this individual's friends, family and community in our thoughts and prayers. We are a resilient people. We will move forward. We will get through this, but we need everybody doing their part. Some good news. Um, 14 of the 16 members, Kentucky and somewhere on the Grand Princess are now home. I know it took too long to get them home, but we're happy toe. Have them home. They arrived last night and we know each and every one of them is now at their home on. We're excited for it. We have a motor coach on the way to pick up the last two that had to be flown from Lachlan to Dobbins, and we look forward to getting them home today. We know everybody that there is a part of that group has not been treated rights, but we are doing everything we can and I will tell you have been personally doing everything I can to get you home where we are today. Um is 21 confirmed cases. We'll have another update at the end of today on starting tomorrow we'll go to one of these a day, each day at four o'clock. We're doing a lot in state government right now, and I've got to make sure we're not pulling people off the front lines. But we will be here each and every day at four to give you the newest updates and to talk about the ways that we're gonna go about this tomorrow. My hope is to start with an age appropriate presentation where people's kids can watch and learn a little bit about the Corona virus. We're working on that right now. So as of today, 21 cases, 66 year old male from Bourbon County who we have lost, Um, and we're not going toe to quibble over being a contributing factor or or not, we're going to list this as the first death here in Kentucky. Again, we're thinking about their family, his family. The second is a 40 year old female from Fat County, a 46 year old male from Fat County, a 31 year old female from Fat County, a 47 year old male from Fat County, a 31 year old male from Fayette County and from Harrison. We have a 27 year old female who is home and fully through it, and that's what we want for everybody. A 67 year old female, a 68 year old male, a 54 year old female, 60 year old male, 51 year old male from Jefferson, 69 year old male, 67 year old female. We still need full confirmation of that 1 68 year old female, 80 year old female, 73 year old female from Montgomery County, a 56 year old male from Nelson County, a 53 year old male from Clark County of 49 year old male and then the latest case is a 54 year old male in Jefferson County. So that is where we are today. But folks, we're gonna have more cases, and we've got to expect more cases, and that's why we're taking the steps that we have taken to date. Kenneth, if you could show our line graph slide, what we're doing is making sure that we take aggressive action. Much of this action is being taken across the country to do everything we can to try to lessen a steep increase in cases and positives that we really need to avoid. We need to avoid that steep increase so that our health care system has the resource is to take care of those that are sick. And our hope is that by doing it, we could hopefully also reduce the total number of cases. That is certainly what I want to do if we continue business as usual. If people don't do their patriotic duty in this graph, which Kenneth can people see this at home that are watching in this graph? That blue line shows you what our cases will be Kentucky. We're not going to do that. We're going to do our duty, We're gonna reduce those contacts, and I want to get us down as much as we can towards that bottom red line. Think about how well that protects our people. Think about how our resource is, will be there for your loved one. That may need them. So again, we're asking each and every person to do their duty to make sure that we're that red line. Now, Kenneth, can you show the Philadelphia to ST Louis why we're taking this aggressive action when you may say, But Andy, we have 21 cases is when we look back and this is the Spanish flu. Not taking action being late by just a couple weeks can make a huge difference. What you see on Philadelphia is not taking the necessary social distancing steps until weeks after the first case. And what you see is a huge spike that resulted in in the types of things happening there that we do not want to see in Kentucky. And I will do everything I have to to keep it from happening in Kentucky. But then, in the behavior that we want a model, what we see in ST Louis eyes aggressive steps that better protected their people S o. We want to be a lot more like ST Louis, but we want to be better. You know, I'd like to think that we want to lead here in Kentucky s O. Let's make sure that all of us are following the practices we need to. You may be in an age group. You may be in great health where you feel indestructible, and you might be with this virus, but if you spread it to somebody else, and that's where the harm can come in. So again, everybody remain calm. It's it's 80% of you are gonna be just fine. Plus, if you get it and the rest, we're gonna make sure that we have what we need to take care of. But we've got to make sure that we are engaging in the right type of activity so that we're not spreading this to other people. I'm gonna go through the list like we do every day of steps we have taken to date, and then we're gonna talk about new steps that we're taking. And again some of those will be significant. But we're gonna continue to take more and more and more steps to make sure that we are not business as usual, that we are reducing our contacts and that we're modeling ST Louis and not Philadelphia to those I know in Philadelphia, we're sorry, but we gotta make sure that we follow that better model. So we declared a state of emergency, which gives us a significant authority to address this crisis. Um, this healthcare outbreak as as we are seeing it, we activated the Emergency Management Operations Center and today we're moving that to level three, and what that does is it puts people in seats. It allows us to have heightened preparedness. It's just gonna make sure that we're out there continuing to plan for every opportunity. And we've activated the state Health Operations center. That's called the shock Center. We announced Kentucky's Cove, it 19 hotline 1 807 2257 to 5. Let's show that if we can Kenneth, you can show the website that number is incredibly important. We're having about 2000 calls a day. That is a good thing. We have to make sure that we do not overwhelm our healthcare facilities. So also we have our main resource for those that want information. That's our state website. If we can put that up K y cove it 19 dot k y dot gov Kyi Cove it 19 dot k y dot gov In a world where there is so much social media and other information, this is the rial information. Go to this website to get your Kentucky specific information. This is where we can tell you we're giving you accurate information. We got an infographic on here that I'm gonna ask Kenneth to pull up. Very important. It's about being a good neighbor, doing our patriotic duty if you are well. But you are nervous. Don't go to a health care facility called the Hotline if you are sick, but otherwise would not have sought care. Think colds think allergies don't go to healthcare facility. We don't overwhelm them. Call the hotline. But if you are truly sick and would have sought care and or injured, get the help, get the care that you need. This is gonna be really important that we get into this practice now to make sure that if we have a spike of cases, that we have the right practices out there, that we're all in that rhythm and that we are making sure that we are being the responsible citizens that we need to bay. We issued an executive order to prohibit price gouging. If you see it, dial 88843 to 9 to 57 We're asking all businesses to implement sickly policies. And if you can't paid sick leave to make sure that we have incentives for people to stay home that are sick and we're doing that in state government. We have had to make changes, just like I know businesses out there will have to make changes. We are continuing to publish the CDC guidelines. Remember, the most vulnerable are those over 60. Those with heart, lung and kidney disease compromised immune systems. Diabetics, especially for those folks, very rigidly follow all of these guidelines. Don't fly. Don't get on a cruise ship. We have recommended social distancing now for everybody staying home as much as possible, though you can certainly get outside. It's healthy for you, but six feet from other individuals. Avoid crowds. Practice great hygiene. Wash your hands multiple times a day, soap and water clean and disinfect your house. If you're at work, you're where you work. If you can't find supplies and we're working on that, a 1 100 bleach solution will work to clean things. And remember that soap and water works better than hand sanitizer, so continue to wash your hands. We have issued an executive order to waive co pays deductibles, call sharing diagnostic test fees as it relates to private insurance, and state employees were also taking steps and Medicaid to make sure that when we have widespread testing that there is no disincentive again. We hope that in the near future that there will be widespread testing. We don't have a timeline for that. And every time we get a timeline, it seems to be extended. So I'm preparing and we're preparing for the reality that we have on the ground and that requires us to test the most sick those that are, um, in the population that is most vulnerable. And we've all gotta understand in these times, even with our anxiety, that being a good neighbor is critical in how we use our resource is gonna do everything I can to push for that day. And we're certainly preparing for it where we will have widespread testing and we will be ready the moment that that capability is in Kentucky to do it next. We are working with all 120 county judges updating them through the Emergency Management Network, and we're gonna be asking them. I know they're already be doing it to do different planning in their community. As we take more aggressive steps, like closing senior centers, we need their leadership and making sure that we're taking care of our individuals, and this is a test of our compassion, of making sure that every time a service that's out there, that it is tough to close and we close it that we step up and we still look out for each other. Remember fear. Um, if it, if it overwhelms you, will cause more harm to you than this Corona virus ever will tow us as a society fear can cause more harm than this Corona virus ever will coming together. Realizing that at this point there are no Democrats, there are no Republicans. There are just Kentucky INS, and it is our job to defeat this Corona virus, all of us together every single day, doing what we need to do to get through this and to protect our people. That is our calling now. And we need each and every one of your help Signed an executive order allowing pharmacy refills for up to 30 days. And if we need to stage pharmacies outside of their brick and mortar, we're going to do that. If we have to extend that 30 days, we'll do that too. We've limited visits to a long term care facilities and nursing homes except in end of life situations. I haven't said this in a couple of days. I know that's hard, and I know that it's already been some time since we've done it, and there's gonna be some more time into the future. Please call your relative FaceTime. Do whatever it is that you can do, but it is absolutely necessary to their safety that we take the steps. We have closed down school districts to in class, certainly in person classes. We see our school district stepping up to be able to provide as much instruction as possible. We need our kids to stay on a schedule for their mental health. We need them to be engaged, and I want to thank all of our school districts for everything you're doing from that in T Eye, which is non traditional instruction to the meals that you are continuing to provide, I keep thinking about ways that we can help our people. We closed all state prisons to visitors. No jails around the state are or should be doing the same. We advise the community gathering should be canceled or postponed. We suspended out of state travel for state employees, and we encourage all businesses to allow as many of your employees to work from home. If that includes all your employees and you were able to do it, you should be doing it at this point. Um, we've recommended a temporary closure of senior centers again, that is, to protect the most vulnerable. We're doing everything we can on the meal side to make sure that we're providing it. And we announced through the Kentucky employers mutual insurance that will be providing wage replacement benefits for first responders and medical personnel that are our front lines. We announced our boards and commissions air canceling any in person meetings and using video teleconference that there will be public access with a link to each and every one of those meetings. We followed the emergency declaration from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which provides regulatory relief for commercial drivers that are helping us battle the Corona virus. We issued guidance to state agencies. We're gonna try to decrease by at least 50% are in person staffing. I've now done a lot of these, so please forgive my voice. We asked Kentucky's hospitals to cease elective procedures by close of business, Wednesday, March 18th. We're working with those systems, but let me say to any hospital or system that is not taking this seriously, you have to. We have to be ready if we have a spike of cases to take care of every Kentucky and who needs it. So we want to make sure that in our health care industry that there is no resistance to doing the right thing. This is your patriotic duty, just like it is everybody else's. We guarantee that the testing for Covert 19 once we have the ability for widespread testing, is going to be Frito, all Kentucky and even the uninsured. We're asking childcare centers to create plans of closure that they could implement within 72 hours. We anticipate that we will give that instruction this week. So childcare centers please be prepared to close later this week. It's again necessary. I know it is difficult. We will have some exceptions for our health care workers. They have to be able to get into work. There will be a few other exceptions that are out there again, a tough step, but one that is absolutely necessary to protect Kentucky INS we had to take for the first time steps to force home isolation of a patient that tested positive again. Just be a good teammate. Do your duty. But we will take the steps that we have to take. And we have issued guidance to help support good mental health, Get physical exercise, Take care of yourself during this. The more you do that the better. All right. New steps that were taken today and we are going to continue to take steps as they move forward and expect that Kentucky and the more we can do to reduce contacts, the better, and we're gonna continue to do it. So I mentioned that our E O. C. Moved to level three again. That helps us with preparation and response. I'm gonna put out the order today to close all restaurants and bars to in person traffic. We're going to have exceptions in there for drive thru for delivery, but we're to the point now where this is a step we have to take after talking yesterday about what happens if we don't. I want to thank everybody who stepped up, some of them sending me messages personally, and we're doing this voluntarily. You were doing your duty. But we're asking so many people to make sacrifices from the school system and others. This is a step that we have to take. We're gonna do everything we can to help with the financial impact. It's not lost on me that most of these are small businesses. And there are those that are watching that have spent, um, your sweat equity and and maybe even your life savings to open that small business, we're gonna do everything we can to be there for you. I want you to know that I realized the impact that it's gonna have. But we have to take the steps to make sure that we're protecting our people. And this is a necessary one today. We're also going to take the steps to waive the waiting period for unemployment for folks that are losing their jobs because of the Corona virus, and we will wave any work search requirements while the state of emergency is in effect. We know that the steps were taking are gonna cause people to lose their job. We want you to be able to qualify for unemployment and we don't want to create impediments that keep you from from being able to get through this, which we're gonna make sure that we get through it together. All right. Beginning tomorrow morning, we're gonna close the state capital to nonessential personnel. That again is a big step. And I am a person who ran on these doors being open for everyone all the time. We're dealing with something that we could have never anticipated. And at the end, my obligation is to keep people safe as we move forward. This is a step where we're modeling. What we're asking other people to be modeling eso. We'll have more details on that. But again, we're taking the steps that are necessary. Also, one announce that we have to state government officials in self isolation. Our transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray, um, and Edith. Hello, blob. Who heads the industrial. Can you help me out? The inn for industrial infrastructure? She's She's over connected toe. T d l g. We will get that title. Both their feeling just fine. It is out of an abundance of caution on again. We're trying to model as best we can. The behavior we need from everybody else. So folks, we're gonna continue to take these steps. What we need you to do is to remain calm and the handle, this disruption and this anxiety as it comes, we're going to get through this. We're taking aggressive action to protect you and the people around you. What I'm asking you to do starting today, though many of you have done this is to consider it your duty as a Kentucky and on as an American to follow the guidance that we're putting up. The more you internalize that, the more you do it, the better neighbor you are and the better protected, we will be as a state. So I know that was a very long resuscitation. We'll open it up to some questions. Tom S O the I believe that we will see, um, the leadership talk about steps that they're going to take as far as the third floor and the annex. It would certainly be my guidance to them to get us a budget as quickly as we can. Ah, and we'll see what that budget includes. No, I I was very proud to put forth ah budget where for the first time in 12 years we were making real investments were to the point where we're gonna have to get through this Corona virus and see what investments we can make at that point. But we are in a different time on what's most important is that they get us a budget and then we can come back if we have to At a later date on dhe. My hope is toe have more dollars to put into important places. Yes. Let me repeat the question. Um, it was it was confirming that we're gonna be closing all bars and restaurants to in person traffic statewide today. Yes, we will be putting out that order. Well, my goal is that the order will take effect as of about 5 p.m. Today. That's my goal. We're working fast. Um, and we want to make sure that we are not operating two weeks too late, like Philadelphia did. In that model that we put up, it's gonna major impact on workers. One of the reasons that we're changing unemployment, waving the days that it takes is gonna have a major impact on a lot of people out there. And I want them to know that we understand. But we will get through this. We will all bounce back. We will rebuild what has to be rebuilt. We are a resilient people. We've proven it time and time again. We're gonna prove it here, too. Yes. They're gonna be exceptions for drive throughs for takeout that we need to look at exactly how that's done and for delivery. Um, and let me ask again, as as part of our duty, we need folks that are out there to be ordering Take out now to be ordering delivery. You know, my family's gonna commit to do it for a least three meals a week. There are four of us. We need everybody else to do that to. These are important businesses. They employ people throughout our community. I know it's a little strange to think about patriotic duty and ordering take out. It is important. I think the challenge large brown and way can't allow that. So we have to. The question was, What about large lines or crowds outside of restaurants? We That's something that we can't allow happen. Eso will make sure and our order whether it is if it's curbside, it's gonna need to be brought to you. If it is drive through that, that ought to work. But we'll put out guidance on that again. If you are a restaurant that is going to switch to this model or is already in this model, you have to think about how you lessen those contacts. It is all of our responsibility and those that had already stepped up after my comments yesterday. Thank you. Thank you for setting the example. Had a number of groups Country Boy Brewing sent me a ah personal text I want I want to thank them for their example and so many others out there. The new information out of Bourbon County is that unfortunately, we have lost the patient there that had tested positive. We are thinking about him and his family. While the Corona virus wasn't the only cause it was a contributing factor on it just reminds us that while we got to remain calm and we're gonna get through this, it is serious, and it truly impacts people. So think about the ramifications as an individual. If you're not following this guidance, it's probably somebody else's loved one that might end up in harm's way. Let me read a couple questions with the new CDC guidance to cancel or postpone in person events that consists of 50 people arm or for the next eight weeks, what is your recommendation for events such as Thunder over Louisville and the Kentucky Derby? My belief is that we're gonna hear shortly about that. I don't want to get ahead of any of those announcements from, um another individual is the time coming to close down ST Government for a few weeks, except for essential service is we're gonna be taking steps to stop any in person service that has needed from state government. We're gonna take what we're gonna do, whatever it takes to make sure that we can provide those service is remotely and will be changing regulations for the short term to do that, let me say we're also gonna put out an order later today that extends people's driver's license if they would otherwise be expiring for the next 90 days. We don't want you to have to come in in person to to get that license reissued. And we have so much that we do that that requires person to person right now, we're gonna take each one as they come. Um, I got a question of what is the per day testing capacity of U of L and Lap Core. I don't have that information. Lab court is obviously a national lab, and we have to reach out to see that we all want the day where the major private labs can provide a test to everyone who needs it. And we're preparing for that scenario. We just got to be ready for it to be sometime further out in the future. How soon does lab Core expect to set up drive through testing in Kentucky? We don't have a date for that. We will deal with our situation on the ground until it is available. And my pledge to you is the moment that it's available. We will be up. We will be running. We will do everything we can to get it to everyone. We are planning and re planning for it every day. Did I meet with, uh, Roberts divers or David Osborne on Sunday to discuss what to do with the General Assembly? I talked individually with them by phone and then will allow them to make any additional announcements we have. Would it be possible to let us know how many people in eastern Kentucky have been tested for the Corona virus and the breakdown of counties and hospitals where the test took place in the results were working on being able to post counties that have had tests or even negative tests. But folks, we expect to have a case of the Corona virus in every area of the state, and we should not be thinking that just because there hasn't been one in our county that we should not be following this guidance absolutely critical that everybody, everybody out there follow these practices. Whether there has been one reported in your region or not, questions on unemployment, I think I addressed a long list of personal. One is the father of two. How do you calm fears and what advice resource is. Do you have for parents? I'm working through this every day, just like you all are. My kids show the anxiety, and it's my job as a parent to reassure them to spend time with them, to get them outside to make sure that exercise to make sure they have intellectual stimulation. We're gonna try tomorrow toe. Have somebody here right at the beginning, right at the beginning for an age appropriate discussion for kids. So if you want to tune in, we'll do it tomorrow at four. With your Children will start with that, and then we'll move into the normal one that I give. I hope that that is one where we can speak directly to Children. Ah, and also to parents. But it's it's again gonna be very different for kids, so keep them on their schedule as much as they can. This is the time for for letting people sleep in, keep keep the bedtime, keep the wake up time. If there is non traditional instruction your kids are doing, schedule it during times when they would otherwise be doing it in school and make sure they're healthy. And one thing that we can learn coming out of this is not just practicing good hygiene, but let's get us healthy as we can as a state. One of the reasons that were being so aggressive is that we are we have so many folks that are at risk because of heart, lung or kidney disease, and everything that we can do in this to model good physical, mental and emotional help is gonna be helpful as we move into the future. With the rapid increase of calls to the Corona virus hotline. Is the state looking into ways to absorb the increase in calls? Yes, that is run through Norton Healthcare. They're hiring more people on diets. Asked if the state has more funding to help, We're in a state of emergency, so we'll tap into all of the funding that is at our disposal. Do we believe that there are more cases of the Corona virus in Kentucky than what a reported due to lack of available testing? We believe that there is. There are more cases out there than are being are being reported. That's not just due to a lack of testing. If we had the widespread testing that we hope to have in the future, yes, we would discover that there are many more positive cases and we expect to see that. But the main reason that we know that there are more cases out there is for 80% of folks, you're gonna be just fine. You might not show any symptoms, or you will show mild symptoms. And so that's that's part of that duty to to reduce our contacts, that you might have this Corona virus and not even know it. So your patriotic duty is to make sure you're protecting yourself and others throughout the course of this. So, folks, we're gonna continue to move forward again. We are gonna make it through. I need everybody to remain calm for you, for your neighbors. But I need you to follow this advice. Let's protect the most vulnerable out there. Yes, let's take two more. There was a report that the federal Health and Human Services Department had a cyber attack over the weekend, and I was just wondering what, if anything, the state is doing to try to prepare. If you're worried about that being an issue, we do need to make sure that at this time that, uh, others across the world don't try to take advantage of us. We need to be prepared for that. And so we have a Department of Homeland Security that's here that works with others to make sure that we're protecting ourselves the best we can. All right. So again, let me let me in by by saying that, um, we got the greatest people here in Kentucky of anywhere in the world. And what what always drives us is our sense of home, our sense of belonging, our sense of how special Kentucky is. I need everybody to step up and to live that not just to feel it, but to live it. Now, as we go through these next couple of weeks or even months, the steps that you take to be a good neighbor, protect the people around you again. Social distancing is not isolation. You can be six feet away from somebody and have a good conversation, and you need to continue tohave personal interaction. Use all the tools that you have if you have face time, or if you have others to communicate with loved ones that you can't see and take care of yourself. And people are gonna be more at home moving forward, then maybe they have been in their entire lives. Eso just take care of yourself. It's okay to take time. You certainly should shut off the news at different times. Don't do this 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I know what that's like, uh, police those around. You need your reassurance, and they need to reassure you, but we're gonna make it. We're gonna come out the other side. We're gonna be stronger for it. We're just gonna take the steps along the way to protect all of those Kentucky ins who are most vulnerable. It is us against the Corona virus. All of us together. No more divisions. No more things that that that we argue that keep us apart. Just us together. Getting through this. Thank you all very much.