Kentucky Governor Orders Bars, Restaurants Closed Inside, School Remote Statewide

Restaurants and bars in Kentucky will be closed to indoor dining starting Friday until Dec.13 due to the uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced the new restrictions during his daily briefing Wednesday. Indoor venues, event spaces and theaters can have no more than 25 people per room, and Beshear also limited gatherings to just your own household and one other, for a maximum of eight people.

The state is also launching a $40 million fund to help restaurants and bars, which will be eligible for up to $10,000 each.

He also ordered all public and private schools to move to remote learning on Monday.

Beshear announced 2,753 new cases of coronavirus in Kentucky. All of the five highest days have come in the last week. He said he knows the decision to enact these restrictions will be unpopular but he said it's necessary.

"This is the most difficult battle we're ever going to fight," he said.

These are the most stringent restrictions Beshear has announced since March, when the first coronavirus cases were confirmed in the commonwealth. Last week, the state Supreme Court upheld his right to issue the executive orders during a public health crisis.

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