Kentucky To Hire More Contact Tracers

More contact tracers will be hired as COVID-19 cases are above 600 for another day in Kentucky.

Mark Carter, who works for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services says there are currently 886 people working in various contact tracing roles across the Commonwealth.

Carter adds with the CARES Act funding they can hire around 290 additional contact tracers.

He says there is overwhelming cooperation when contact tracers are having to make calls to residents.

Governor Andy Beshear confirmed 659 new COVID-19 cases Thursday pushing the state total to 29,386. The positivity rate is down slightly at 5.66%. Currently, there are 587 Kentuckians hospitalized and 110 in the ICU.

Beshear also confirmed seven new deaths Thursday, including a 65-year old male from Christian County.