LOCAL

Kentucky wants travelers returning from these states to quarantine for 2 weeks

Sarah Ladd
Louisville Courier Journal

Gov. Andy Beshear in July issued a travel advisory as coronavirus cases in Kentucky reached an "accelerating phase." 

The guidance advises anyone who has traveled to a state with a 15% case positivity rate or higher to quarantine for 14 days upon return. For context, Kentucky's positivity rate has floated between about 3-5% in recent weeks. Some hot spots include Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Florida, Beshear said. 

"I've been begging and pleading for people not to go when we know how much has been brought back," Beshear said. "Sadly a person will go to the beach, a place where one in five people are testing positive, and they'll come back and they'll go to work and then they'll go to church and then they'll do a number of other things and it spreads throughout those areas." 

Beshear has continued to notify Kentuckians of new states reaching a 15% positivity rate that are affected by the advisory. 

Here are those states, along with their positivity rates, according to data provided by Johns Hopkins:

  • South Dakota — 22.78% 
  • Mississippi — 22.39%
  • Idaho— 21.90%
  • Wisconsin  — 21.49%
  • Iowa — 17.19%
  • Missouri — 17.18%
  • Wyoming — 16.71%
  • Kansas — 15.51%
  • Florida — 11%

Though Florida's rate is below 15%, Beshear added it to the list as the state has lifted many of its restrictions and is a popular destination for Kentuckians, according to a Sunday update from the governor. 

Dr. Steven Stack, the state's public health commissioner, said in a statement the quarantine should start from the day a person left a hot spot.

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“I am appealing to Kentuckians who have traveled to these states or to Puerto Rico to consider the interest of your health and the health of others," he said.  

“Avoid going to these areas, if you are able,” Stack said. “If plans can’t be changed, self-quarantine after getting back to Kentucky.”

Home quarantine, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health, includes the following: 

  • Stay at home, avoiding all in-person activities.
  • Do not allow visitors to come to your home.
  • If you live with someone, stay in a separate room or, if impossible, wear a face mask and stay 6 feet away from them.
  • Wash hands often.
  • Don't share personal items such as dishes, cups, forks, spoons and towels.
  • Don't leave home except to seek medical care, in which case you should call ahead.
  • Call 911 for a medical emergency and advise them you are in quarantine for the coronavirus. Wear a mask until instructed otherwise. 
  • Don't use ride shares or public transportation. 
  • Check your temperature twice daily for fever symptoms and write temperatures down. 
  • Contact your local health department for assistance, including getting food delivered. 

This story may be updated. 

Reach breaking news reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.