Issue Position: COVID-19

Issue Position

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) is responding actively to the COVID-19 situation. The State Health Operations Center is operating at Level 1, its highest activation level. This respiratory disease was first detected in a Kentucky resident on March 6, 2020.

The COVID-19 hotline (1-800-722-5725) is a service operated by the healthcare professionals at the KY Poison Control Center who can provide advice and answer questions. Please be patient as they are handling a high volume of calls and want to give everyone the time they deserve. For general information, please review the Kentucky State Government's website prior to calling the hotline. Guidance is being added as it becomes available.

WHEN TO SEEK CARE
If you have developed a fever or respiratory symptoms and believe you have had exposure to a known case or traveled to an area with community spread, isolate yourself from others in your home and contact your healthcare provider or local health department to describe your symptoms and any recent travel before you go to the healthcare facility.

MENTAL HEALTH AND RELIEVING ANXIETY
Uncertainty leads to anxiety. Follow these tips to maintain your mental health and reduce anxiety. Please seek professional help if needed. For more information, visit the CDC guidance for managing anxiety and stress.

COMMUNITY GUIDANCE

Social distancing is key to keeping Kentuckians safe. It is essential we follow these social distancing guidelines:

*It is advised that all community gatherings be cancelled
*The governor called for all 172 school districts, the Kentucky School for the Blind and Kentucky School for the Deaf to close
*Avoid all non-essential travel. Do not fly. Do not participate in cruise travel.
*Recommend the temporary closure of senior centers to help halt the spread of the virus for those most vulnerable
*All state prisons are closed to visitors
*Recommend businesses to utilize telecommuting and allow employees to work from home if possible
*State boards and commissions have canceled any scheduled in-person meetings and instead will use video teleconference technology
*Hospitals are asked to cease elective procedures

This guidance will continue to change as circumstances warrant.

Our world is changing dramatically all around us. The coronavirus pandemic has upended business, travel and everyday life for all of us. And it goes without saying that it's changed how we're running this campaign for the time being.

The Senate must act now to flatten the curve -- to ensure our health care facilities are not overwhelmed with patients -- before it's too late. National leadership should be focused on making sure as many Americans as possible can stay at home as much as possible, per public health experts' recommendations.

WE NEED:

*Free coronavirus testing for all Americans
*Paid sick leave for workers
*More funding for food assistance
*Immediate financial support for small businesses
*Suspension of student loan, mortgage, and other such loan payments for at least two months
*And to waive the waiting period and expand who qualifies for unemployment benefits
… and we need it now. Every day that passes without these protections in place, we fall behind in our ability to save lives.

These are challenging times, and to all the hardworking nurses, doctors, EMTs, health care professionals and first responders, and to everyone who understands what it's like to be on duty when your nation and your community calls: thank you.

Stay safe out there team, and let's do all we can to keep our neighbors and communities safe. We're all in this together, even if we can't be together.

BOLD MEASURES
At a time like this, bold measures are called for. During this public health crisis, anyone who gets sick should be able to take time off without financial injury, and anyone whose kids are either sick or sent home from school without child care should get help, too. We can debate more permanent solutions later.

Some economists, including Republicans, have advocated cutting checks to low-income and working-class families in areas afflicted by the coronavirus, whether the individuals themselves are sick or not. That idea deserves serious consideration. Think of it as a tax rebate for unusual times.

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