Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear provides update, attributes lower case numbers to mask wearing

Hannah K. Sparling
Cincinnati Enquirer
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear holds up a face mask while speaking about the novel coronavirus during a news conference at the state Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Sunday, April 26, 2020.

It's a mix of good and bad news for Kentuckians when it comes to the coronavirus.

On the positive side, the new-case count is down compared to the week prior, according to an update from Gov. Andy Beshear. 

On the negative side, though, the positivity rate is up, "meaning that the virus continues to spread aggressively," Beshear said in a news release. 

As of Aug. 9, Kentucky had 34,982 coronavirus cases, 425 of which were newly reported Sunday, according to the release.

Nine of the newly reported cases were from children 5 and younger.

Kentucky reported one new death on Sunday, raising the total to 773. 

The positivity rate will not be official until Monday, but Beshear said it is expected to be up. 

Beshear attributed the lower case number to people wearing masks. 

"Please keep it up, wear them even more, especially when you're inside," he said in the release.