Neal announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Restaurants and bars can reopen at 50% capacity. Please click on Minimum Requirements for more details. Bars and . Events, businesses, and other entities currently operating must meet certain minimum requirements in addition to the requirements and guidance specific to their industry sector. The plaintiffs had alleged that state orders restricting mass gatherings and closing churches as non-essential businesses violated their First Amendment rights to the freedom of assembly and the free exercise of religion. This is great news, and it should also be a compelling motivation to get vaccinated, said Beshear, who acknowledged that people who insist on not getting a vaccine will continue to put themselves at risk if they remove their mask in public places. The phase will include all individuals age 60 and older and anyone 16 and older with health conditions on the. . Employee Retention Credit - The American Rescue Plan extends the availability of the Employee Retention Credit for small businesses through December 2021 and allows businesses to offset their current payroll tax liabilities by up to $7,000 per employee per quarter. "[44], The orders' challengers, three Northern Kentucky businesses, had argued that the governor's orders, including a statewide mask mandate and indoor occupancy restrictions, violated the state constitution and statutory rulemaking procedures. Since then, increasingly fewer people are getting a shot every day. The Democratic governor claims in his lawsuit against the two Republican legislative leaders that the laws are unconstitutional and hurt his ability to protect all Kentuckians from COVID-19 and other emergencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended Americans cancel holiday travel to curb the spread of COVID-19. Andy Beshear (D) announced the Shot at a Million vaccination . Payroll Tax Deferral - To enhance cash flow so businesses can better maintain operations and payroll, employers and self-employed individuals can defer payment of the employer share of the Social Security tax they otherwise are responsible for paying to the federal government with respect to their employees. We want to come out strong and ready to rebuild. At least 4 deaths; power outages climb. Kentucky has announced new restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, following a record 33 deaths announced on Tuesday. After more than a year of being at war with this virus, we have the hard-won knowledge on how to lessen the spread, and now to even defeat the virus with safe and effective vaccines, Beshear said. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. [39][40], Roberts v. Neace: On May 4, 2020, Judge William Bertelsman, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, enjoined the state from enforcing its ban on interstate travel. The date shown is the day that we wrote about them in the newsletter. Saatva Mattress Review: Our Pick for the Best Overall Bed of 2023, We Found 12 Cute Planters and Flower Pots That Cost Less Than $25, Here's Where to Watch and Stream Marvel's 'Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Online. For those who arent yet inoculated, the shift in guidance should compel them to get their shot, he said. Reminder: People should be prepared for state and local public health orders to be extended, amended, or changed as needed to protect public health. Writing on behalf of a unanimous court, Justice Lisabeth Tabor Hughes said, "The governors orders were, and continue to be, necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of all Kentucky citizens." Employers of all sizes that face closure orders or suffer economic hardship due to COVID-19 are incentivized to keep employees on the payroll through a 50% credit on up to $10,000 of wages paid or incurred from March 13, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020. As we have all along, lets remember that those arent just ages or counties or genders. Its going to take some time for people to get used to again returning to what we used to do before all of this started, Stack said. COVID-19 Community Levels for Kentucky prepared by KDPH may differ from COVID-19 Community Levels prepared by CDC. Remainder of loan funds may go toward mortgage interest, rentand utilities. Finally, the public interest favors the enjoinment of a constitutional violation." People entering senior centers will be required to follow county-level mask guidance, he said. He has covered politics and government in Kentucky since May 1978. Bertelsman wrote, "Plaintiffs are not alone in having their lives and activities disrupted by it and the measures that our federal and state governments have taken to address it. The once-in-a-century coronavirus pandemic dramatically altered life in Kentucky and around the world. LESLIE SALISBURY IS THE 100 GRAND PERSON. For more information on the new tool provided by CDC, please visit the CDC website: COVID-19 by County. Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd temporarily halted a new law late Wednesday that allows businesses, schools, nonprofits and churches to stay open if they meet COVID-19 guidelines set by either the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Kentuckys executive branch, whichever is least restrictive. Experts have ideas why, Number of Kentucky counties at high COVID-19 community level shifts from 2 to 4, Catching COVID may increase chances of developing an autoimmune disease, study says, 2 Kentucky counties at high COVID community level as state reaches 18,000 virus deaths, What to do if your COVID test expires or if you test positive? As part of his order, Fischer said he wanted to prevent citizens from driving around town and spreading the virus. BQluMw~F_? Four months ago, on July 20, the states single-day record for new COVID-19 cases was 850. It does feel like theres a new day dawning. KDPH created the Community Level COVID-19 Guidance to align with the community level model. Tatenhove's full opinion and order can be accessed here. Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack asked for people to give one another grace as they acclimate to this new mentality. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. %PDF-1.5 [38], On Fire Christian Center, Inc. v. Fischer: On April 10, 2020, On Fire Christian Church filed a lawsuit against Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. As of May 28, 2021, the following restrictions are lifted or amended as noted: 1. [42], In a press conference on May 9, 2020, Gov. GmBo!}W'`BB8. Gov. THE TIMELINE IS LINKED TO WIN THE GOVERNOR THINKS WE COULD HIT THE MARK HE HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID IF 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE WITH AT LEAST ONE SHOT REALISTICALLY I THINK WERE LOOKING AT FIVE TO SIX WEEKS. Team Kentucky: your patience, hard work and sacrifices have paid off. Beshear is waiting a month to fully lift those restrictions to allow time for adolescents ages 12-15 to get vaccinated. Indeed, it is hard to imagine that there is any American that has not been impacted. I still have it on me, he said, admitting that he will probably still wear a mask in crowded settings, even though, as a fully-vaccinated individual, he faces little risk. As CDC transitions to the COVID-19 Community Level model that uses the number of new COVID-19 cases in each county, percent of hospital capacity devoted to COVID-19 patients and the number of new patients with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital in the past week, KDPH will be using this tool to help Kentuckians be informed of the COVID-19 impact in their communities. Companies across the commonwealth have retooled their operations to manufacture PPE amid the pandemic. But unless a law can be shown to have religion within its cross-hairs, either facially or in application, the fact that religious practices are impinged by it does not contravene the First Amendment. At a news conference earlier, Beshear said there are 174 CDC guidance documents that each business would need to consult. The table below lists officials or candidates who have been diagnosed with or quarantined due to coronavirus. Live updates: Historical windstorm blows in. When was the plan first released to the public? Republican Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana and state public health officials announced the changes Wednesday, claiming the state was facing an increasingly concerning situation. Paul announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus. For how long? >> WE PLANNED ON REOPENING, BUT WE DIDNT KNOW IF WE COULD REOPEN. This article has Unlimited Access. As of last weeks data from the CDC, 49.5% of Kentucky adults 18 and over are fully vaccinated. Effective April 19, 2021 Restaurants and bars must limit the number of customers present inside any given establishment to the lesser of the maximum permitted occupancy defined in the current Healthy at Work Minimum Requirements or the Realistically, I think were looking at to five to six weeks, but again, thats all on us, Beshear said. The judge reserved ruling on the governors motion for injunctive relief on other issues in the lawsuit, pending full briefing and a hearing. Guthrie announced on December 8, 2021, that he tested positive for COVID-19. % These things are miracles, Beshear said of the vaccinations. But the governor said he wanted to wait a few weeks to lift restrictions so children between 12 and 15 years old had time to get their COVID-19 vaccine. RESERVATIONS ARE. The last year has been long and arduous, and though it may be hard to believe, life will soon return to normal. The governor says any business owners who do not feel ready to lift the mask mandate in their business or any Kentuckians who are still uncomfortable going without a mask are still welcome to do so as additional protections for themselves, their employees and those around them. Restrictions on indoor dining, public gatherings, and live entertainment could soon be relaxed. 2021 Jul 1;16 (7):e0250152. Coroner releases name of woman who died after wind blew tree onto vehicle in Lexington, Marianne Williamson officially launches long-shot bid for 2024, Marianne Williamson begins longshot 2024 challenge to Biden, Election conspiracies fuel dispute over voter fraud system, Biden closes in on order to restrict US investment in China tech, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, Texas congressman who broke with GOP is censured. IT REALLY WAS PAINLESS AND EASY TO DO NOT AS PAINLESS. &{4^/M=' -\FLHG?ELp Keol&'y'4y8J t>I3yIngNEEAjS_Ozg@H(8D&Ks*a.t%tz_U|o\?pA,ia8oGRIJ`%^'xK6JW NA!kt{FZ>pHc|#q; /R"EfOKbb\ h;=KnpYM>gww%R! Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)/Rural Health Clinic (RHC) can serve as a distant site provider for non-behavioral/mental telehealth services. Catching COVID gives you durable protection from virus, study finds. "After a long, dark pandemic, more of our people have gotten their shot of hope, and we have steadily moved to lift the last remaining restrictions put in place to slow the spread of this dangerous virus and save lives, Beshear said. Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts. He directed the parties in the case to meet and confer to attempt to resolve the legal disputes in Beshears lawsuit. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. LOUISVILLE, Ky. With COVID-19 vaccine doses trickling out across Kentucky, it's apparent demand for the vaccines has dramatically slowed down as the state tries to reach a benchmark. Gyms and other fitness centers must keep their capacity below 34%, and everyone inside must wear a mask while exercising. Wesley W. Duke represented Friedlander in Wednesdays hearing and Greg Woosley represented the Legislative Research Commission. Group classes, team practices and competitions are suspended. She said she was fully vaccinated when she contracted the virus. After more than a year and a half of restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, most of Kentuckys COVID-19 restrictions including its mask mandate are slated to end this Friday.Kentuckys coronavirus-related capacity restrictions, as well as the states mask mandate, will largely end on June 11.Masks will still be required on public transportation, schools, long-term care facilities and other locations that serve the most vulnerable.Kentucky followed CDC guidance last month, no longer requiring fully-vaccinated people to wear masks. They are saving lives every single day. Where can I find additional information about the state's vaccine distribution? Representatives for the church said that they had been hosting drive-in services in their parking lot in order to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for several weeks. Restaurants and bars can no longer sell food or drinks to be consumed indoors. U.S. District Judge Justin Walker ruled in favor of the church but said that his ruling did not apply to other churches in the city. Beshear also announced he would end the statewide mask requirement for everyone (including unvaccinated people) on June 11. Bertelsman rejected a challenge to limits placed on mass gatherings, including church services. Office-based businesses must keep their capacity below 34%, and everyone who can work from home should be doing so. Harmon announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus. Salsbury was given the milestone vaccine by Patty Burns worked 43 years as a nurse at St. Elizabeth, but came out of retirement to help with the vaccination effort. Companies across the commonwealth have retooled their operations to manufacture PPE amid the pandemic. We need even more of our fellow Kentuckians to get vaccinated before we can truly be free of COVID-19s threat, the governor said. Visitors from nine states are encouraged to self-quarantine for 14 days. Team Kentucky: your patience, hard work and sacrifices have paid off. Earlier Wednesday, Shepherd held a hearing that ran nearly an hour on Beshears lawsuit. KDPH will continue to closely monitor COVID-19 data and provide weekly updates on the KDPH COVID-19 website. But the governor said he wanted to wait a few weeks to lift restrictions so children between 12 and 15 years old had time to get their COVID-19 vaccine. The state is also starting Phase 1C of vaccine distribution March 1. Kentucky will return to full capacity everywhere and fully lifts its mask mandate in less than a month, ending more than a year of COVID-19-related restrictions, Gov. >> IM SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MANY OF OUR REGULARS BUT ALSO PEOPLE THAT REALLY DID NOT WANT TO COME OUT DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE RETURNING TO THE RESTAURANT SCENE AND ITS AWESOME JATARA A SIGH OF RELIEF AFTER A TOUGH YEAR FOR COLLEEN HAW >> THE SECOND TIME THAT WE GOT SHUT DOWN FOR THOSE THREE WEEKS WAS ABSOLUTELY THE WORST. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley). State health officials lifted the ban on piercings on Friday. SHES NUMBER 100,000 SAINT ELIZABETH HAS VACCINATED BUT THIS ONE IS WITH AN AUDIENCE OF KENTUCKY GOVERNOR ANDY BASHIR. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The increasing number of vaccinations makes it safe to let Kentuckians gather once again at senior centers, the governor said at a news conference. In addition to Osborne and Stivers, other defendents included the Legislative Research Commission and Cameron, in his capacity as attorney general. IN BUSINESS IS FINALLY STARTING TO COME BACK. If you know of a noteworthy story we are missing, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.