Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Beshear: Activities To Be Restricted at State-Supported Senior Centers

Screenshot from Gov. Andy Beshear Facebook

Gov. Andy Beshear has announced that 195 state-supported senior centers around Kentucky will temporarily be closed to in person-activities in response to coronavirus.

Using funds available because of the declared state of emergency, the centers will still provide meals to citizens either through home delivery or having them available for pick-up, Beshear said.

“We need to try to provide every meal that would’ve been provided to a senior at a senior center to make sure they get it one way or another,” Beshear said.

Senior centers provide meals, health and fitness programs, recreational activities and other programs for Kentuckians. Centers in Harrison, Fayette and Nicholas counties have already closed.

Beshear announced that Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance, the state’s largest issuer of workers’ compensation insurance that contracts with many state agencies, will provide wage replacement benefits to first responders who have to be quarantined due to coronavirus.

“That should also give confidence to our healthcare employees that are out there,” Beshear said. “If they end up having to be at home because of their work we’re going to take care of them.”

Beshear also announced that he was issuing a guidance to all state boards and commissions to stop holding in-person meetings and to conduct business via teleconference. Beshear said that he had consulted with the Kentucky Press Association and that holding meetings remotely would comply with the state’s open meetings laws.

“It’s the very best we can do,” Beshear said.

Ryland Barton is the Managing Editor for Collaboratives. He's covered politics and state government for NPR member stations KWBU in Waco and KUT in Austin. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Texas. He grew up in Lexington.

Email Ryland at rbarton@lpm.org.
Related Content