City of Corbin Alcoholic Beverage Control

06/30/2021

Please note that the new ABC Software system is now live on their site (https://abcportal.ky.gov/BELLEExternal) so your portal will look a little different when you log in. The approval tabs are on the front when you login.

06/02/2021

FYI: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/06/02/anheuser-busch-free-beer-first-vaccine-july-4/7503898002/.

Anheuser-Busch says if the White House reaches its goal of getting 70% of Americans partially vaccinated by July 4, it will give away free beer.

06/01/2021

City of Corbin Alcoholic Beverage Control office will be closed Monday, May 31st, 2021 in observance of Memorial Day. Please have a safe and wonderful holiday!

05/26/2021

Easing Restrictions for Bars and Restaurants
All guidance contained in this document is contingent on the business’s ability to comply
with the Healthy at Work minimum requirements at:
https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/covid19/HAWMinimumRequirements.pdf

As of May 28, 2021, the following restrictions are lifted or amended as noted:
1. Capacity restrictions are amended, increasing from 60% to 75%.

2. Last call/closing time requirements are lifted. Bars and restaurants are no longer required to close at 1:00 am.

3. Bar seating and service restrictions are lifted. Bar seating and service may resume.

Q: If an establishment has both indoor and outdoor seating does the 75% capacity apply to just

the indoor area or to the indoor and outdoor area as a whole?
A: The 75% capacity applies to indoor seating with minimum requirements. Outdoor seating is
not capacity-limited.

As of June 11, 2021, all restrictions are lifted. This includes the restriction on activities such as karaoke, billiards, etc.

Expanded premises

Many establishments have taken advantage of the opportunity to expand their seating and service area outside of their licensed premises. For those wishing to continue that practice, the area
utilized must now become part of the officially licensed premises for the establishment.

Please email your expansion plan to Kellie Lovan, ABC Licensing Director, at [email protected] for approval by July 11th. An ABC officer will contact you for an inspection to approve the planned permanent expansion. Establishments may continue to operate expanded premises pending that inspection so long as the plan has been forwarded by July 11th. Previous guidance related to this practice is below.

Q: May a licensee expand outdoor seating in a parking lot, yard or other adjacent area?

A: The licensee may put tables in its parking lot/back yard, etc., if the area is part of its deeded/leased property without further steps related to alcohol licensing. Servers can bring the alcohol from inside the restaurant/bar outside to the patrons at the tables.
If the business somehow expands the outdoor area to a different parcel that isn’t in its deed/lease (for example, a neighbor business allows them to use their portion of a backyard or parking lot),
the licensee will need to send a letter of material change to notify ABC (an email will suffice).

If the business wants to set up an additional bar outside with its outdoor seating, a supplemental license is required.

*Any action related to expanding outdoor seating or structures also requires compliance with the regulatory authority of the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction and local ordinances. By way of example only, occupancy permits may be based on plumbing facilities sufficient to serve the intended capacity. Expanded outside capacity must be consistent with these requirements. By way of further example, certain temporary outdoor structures and certain types of tents may require a Certificate of Occupancy from the
Kentucky Department of Housing, Building and Construction before utilization.

Please direct questions to [email protected]

Rev. 5/26/2021

03/29/2021

The City of Corbin offices will be closed Friday, April 2nd in observance of Good Friday. We wish you all blessed holiday!

03/29/2021

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Guidelines for
Bars and Restaurants

Note: All answers contained in this document are contingent on the business’s ability to
comply with the Healthy at Work guidelines found at:
https://govstatus.egov.com/ky-healthy-atwork #:~:text=Healthy%20at%20Work%20is%20a,protecting%20the%20most%20vulnerable%2
0Kentuckians.

Q: What is new?
A: Bars and Restaurants are able to operate at a 60% capacity inside if appropriate social
distancing is still possible. Food and alcohol service should end by 12:00 am and the
establishment must be closed by 1:00 am (local times). Patrons must remain seated at their tables
while inside the establishment. Movement throughout should be limited to accessing the
restrooms and exits.

Q: Is bar service or seating permitted?
A: No. Patrons may not sit at the bar or purchase drinks directly from the bar. Patrons should
remain seated and have drinks served at their tables, in compliance with Healthy at Work
guidelines.

Q: Do the new guidelines apply to event venues?
A: No. However, event venues must continue to comply with Healthy at Work Guidelines.

Q: Do the new guidelines apply to wine samplings?
A: No. However, wine sampling events must continue to comply with Healthy at Work
Guidelines.

Q: Do the new guidelines apply to distilleries, microbreweries/breweries, or small farm
wineries?

A: The 12:00 am closure order does not apply to the facility as a whole. However, the 12:00 am last call
and 1:00 am closure order (and all new guidelines for bars and restaurants) does apply to bars or
restaurants operating within those facilities.
Q: If an establishment has both indoor and outdoor seating does the 60% capacity apply to just
the indoor area or to the indoor and outdoor area as a whole?

A: The 60% capacity applies to indoor seating with appropriate social distancing and other
Healthy at Work guidelines. Outdoor seating is not capacity-based but must also comply with
appropriate distancing and other Healthy at Work guidelines for restaurants and bars. Outdoor
seating is encouraged.

Q: Is live music allowed if patrons remain at their tables?
A: Yes.

Q: May a licensee expand outdoor seating in a parking lot, yard or other adjacent area?
A: The licensee may put tables in its parking lot/back yard, etc. if the area is part of its
deeded/leased property without further steps related to alcohol licensing. Servers can bring the
alcohol from inside the restaurant/bar outside to the patrons at the tables.
If the business somehow expands the outdoor area to a different parcel that isn’t in its deed/lease
(for example, a neighbor business allows them to use their portion of a backyard or parking lot),
the licensee will need to send a letter of material change to notify ABC (an email will suffice).
If the business wants to set up an additional bar outside with its outdoor seating, a supplemental
license is required.
*Any action related to expanding outdoor seating or structures also requires compliance with
the regulatory authority of the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and
Construction. By way of example only, occupancy permits may be based on plumbing facilities
sufficient to serve the intended capacity. Expanded outside capacity must be consistent with
these requirements. By way of further example, certain temporary outdoor structures and
certain types of tents may require a Certificate of Occupancy from the Kentucky Department
of Housing, Building and Construction before utilization.

Q: May restaurants continue to provide alcohol to go with curbside service, carry-out and
delivery orders?
A: Yes. Alcohol “to go” must accompany food orders. Bars may not offer mixed drinks or other
alcohol by the drink, for curbside service, carry-out, or delivery.

Q: If a bar has a food permit, will minors be allowed on the premises?
A: No. License types that exclude minors should continue to comply with laws related to minors
on the premises.

Q: Are bar and restaurant patrons permitted to play pool, darts, corn hole, or other activities
requiring patrons to be out of their seats while in the establishment, like dancing or singing
karaoke?

A: No. Patrons are required to remain seated at tables while patronizing bars and restaurants.
However, pool halls and bars may allow for APA, LAP, BCA, NAPA or TAP league and
tournament play that is in compliance with and monitored for league safety guidelines. Nonleague play/practice is prohibited. Bars should continue to comply with guidelines related to 12
am last call and 1 am closing times.

Q: Is karaoke permitted?
A: No. There is no situation in which karaoke is permitted in licensed establishments.

Q: Does the 1:00 am closure order apply to bowling alleys, gaming facilities, activity centers,
pool halls, movie theaters or similar establishments?
A: No, however these entities must follow the 12:00 am last call and 1:00 am closure orders as
they relate to bars or restaurants operating within the facility. Alcohol service must stop at 12:00
am, and alcoholic beverages may not be consumed on premises after 1:00 am, but the
establishment does not have to cease its operations that do not involve alcohol (e.g. bowling,
billiards, etc.). Activities in these establishments must comply with all general Healthy at Work
guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing, masks, sanitizing surfaces, and
minimizing patron foot traffic. If not entering, exiting, using the restroom, or directly
participating in entertainment activities (e.g. if it is not a patron’s turn to bowl), patrons must
remain seated.

Q: When an establishment closes at 1:00 am, what time is it allowed to reopen?
A: The guidelines do not outline a time that businesses may reopen the following day. However,
state law mandates that alcohol cannot be served until 6:00 am and not at all on Sunday unless
otherwise outlined in local ordinance. Licensees should verify local rules related to this question
before providing alcohol to patrons at bars and restaurants at 6:00 am.

Please direct questions to [email protected]
Rev. 3/19/2021

03/19/2021

Governor Andy Beshear has relaxed the curfew on bars and restaurants as the state's rate of positive COVID-19 cases reached its lowest level since early July.

The curfew will be extended one hour, starting Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear said.

Bars and restaurants can serve food and drinks until midnight local time and stay open until 1 a.m., the governor said Thursday.
“Hopefully this is a little bit of relief given the positive movement of where we are right now as a state with vaccines going up and cases going down,” Beshear said.

Capacity limits at bars and restaurants will remain at 60% and the spaced-out seating rule still applies, the governor said.

“We cannot have people crowding around bars or in restaurants around bars,” he said. “We do have to keep people separated."
Kentucky’s rate of positive cases fell to 3.23% Thursday, the lowest level since July 3.

03/02/2021

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Crystal Staley
502-545-3714
Sebastian Kitchen
502-330-0799
502-564-2611

Gov. Beshear: Many Businesses Can Now Increase Capacity to 60%
COVID-19 cases decline for seventh straight week, positivity rate declines to 4.84%
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 1, 2021) – On Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced 18 industries can increase capacity to 60% as the state completes its seventh straight week of declining COVID-19 cases.
Today, the Governor reported the lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since Sept. 28 and the lowest positivity rate since Oct. 18.
“Today, we have more good news than at any time in the pandemic. We’ve never seen what we are seeing now in terms of a downward trend. Previously, we had experienced only three consecutive weeks of declining cases,” said Gov. Beshear. “COVID hospitalizations, ICU admittance and those needing a ventilator have either decreased or stabilized.
“This capacity increase is an initial step where we will watch and see to ensure we don’t see a corresponding increase in cases.”
The following businesses can now increase capacity to 60%:
• Indoor auctions
• Barbershops/cosmetology/hair salons
• Bars and restaurants
• Bowling alleys
• Indoor educational and cultural activities
• Fitness centers
• Funeral and memorial services
• Government offices/agencies
• Massage therapy
• Movie theaters
• Nail salons
• Office-based businesses
• Places of worship (recommendation)
• Retail
• Tanning salons
• Tattoo parlors
• Vehicle and vessel dealerships
• Venues and event spaces
The Governor said he intends to increase child care capacity to regular group size on March 15 if positive trends continue.

03/02/2021

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding August 10th Guidelines for
Bars and Restaurants
Note: All answers contained in this document are contingent on the business’s ability to comply with the Healthy at Work guidelines found at:
https://govstatus.egov.com/ky-healthy-at-work #:~:text=Healthy%20at%20Work%20is%20a,protecting%20the%20most%20vulnerable%20Kentuckians.
Q: What is new?
A: Bars and Restaurants are able to operate at a 50% capacity inside. Food and alcohol service should end by 11:00 pm and the establishment must be closed by 12:00 am (local times). Patrons must remain seated at their tables while inside the establishment. Movement throughout should be limited to accessing the restrooms and exits.
Q: Is bar service or seating permitted?
A: No. Patrons may not sit at the bar or purchase drinks directly from the bar. Patrons should remain seated and have drinks served at their tables, in compliance with Healthy at Work guidelines.
Q: Do the new guidelines apply to event venues?
A: No. However, event venues must continue to comply with Healthy at Work Guidelines.
Q: Do the new guidelines apply to wine samplings?
A: No. However, wine sampling events must continue to comply with Healthy at Work Guidelines.
Q: Do the new guidelines apply to distilleries, microbreweries/breweries, or small farm wineries?
A: The 12:00 am closure order does not apply to the facility as a whole. However, the 11:00 PM last call and 12:00 am closure order (and all new guidelines for bars and restaurants) does apply to bars or restaurants operating within those facilities.
Q: If an establishment has both indoor and outdoor seating does the 50% capacity apply to just the indoor area or to the indoor and outdoor area as a whole?
A: The 50% capacity applies to indoor seating with appropriate social distancing and other Healthy at Work guidelines. Outdoor seating is not capacity-based but must also comply with appropriate distancing and other Heathy at Work guidelines for restaurants and bars. Outdoor seating is encouraged.
Q: Is live music allowed if patrons remain at their tables?
A: Yes.
Q: May a licensee expand outdoor seating in a parking lot, yard or other adjacent area?
A: The licensee may put tables in its parking lot/back yard, etc. if the area is part of its deeded/leased property without further steps related to alcohol licensing. Servers can bring the alcohol from inside the restaurant/bar outside to the patrons at the tables.
If the business somehow expands the outdoor area to a different parcel that isn’t in its deed/lease (for example, a neighbor business allows them to use their portion of a backyard or parking lot), the licensee will need to send a letter of material change to notify ABC (an email will suffice).
If the business wants to set up an additional bar outside with its outdoor seating, a supplemental license is required.
*Any action related to expanding outdoor seating or structures also requires compliance with the regulatory authority of the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction. By way of example only, occupancy permits may be based on plumbing facilities sufficient to serve the intended capacity. Expanded outside capacity must be consistent with these requirements. By way of further example, certain temporary outdoor structures and certain types of tents may require a Certificate of Occupancy from the Kentucky Department of Housing, Building and Construction before utilization.
Q: May restaurants continue to provide alcohol to go with curbside service, carry-out and delivery orders?
A: Yes. Alcohol “to go” must accompany food orders. Bars may not offer mixed drinks or other alcohol by the drink, for curbside service, carry-out, or delivery.
Q: If a bar has a food permit, will minors be allowed on the premises?
A: No. License types that exclude minors should continue to comply with laws related to minors on the premises.
Q: Are bar and restaurant patrons permitted to play pool, darts, corn hole, or other activities requiring patrons to be out of their seats while in the establishment, like dancing or singing karaoke?
A: No. Patrons are required to remain seated at tables while patronizing bars and restaurants. However, pool halls and bars may allow for APA, LAP, BCA, NAPA or TAP league and tournament play that is in compliance with and monitored for league safety guidelines. Non-league play/practice is prohibited. Bars should continue to comply with guidelines related to 11 pm last call and 12 am closing times.
Q: Is karaoke permitted?
A: No. There is no situation in which karaoke is permitted in licensed establishments.
Q: Does the 12am closure order apply to bowling alleys, gaming facilities, activity centers, pool halls, movie theaters or similar establishments?
A: No, however these entities must follow the 11:00 pm last call and 12:00 am closure orders as they relate to bars or restaurants operating within the facility. Alcohol service must stop at 11:00 pm, and alcoholic beverages may not be consumed on premises after 12:00 am, but the establishment does not have to cease its operations that do not involve alcohol (e.g. bowling, billiards, etc.). Activities in these establishments must comply with all general Healthy at Work guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing, masks, sanitizing surfaces, and minimizing patron foot traffic. If not entering, exiting, using the restroom, or directly participating in entertainment activities (e.g. if it is not a patron’s turn to bowl), patrons must remain seated.
Q: When an establishment closes at 12:00 am, what time is it allowed to reopen?
A: The guidelines do not outline a time that businesses may reopen the following day. However, state law mandates that alcohol cannot be served until 6:00 am and not at all on Sunday unless otherwise outlined in local ordinance. Licensees should verify local rules related to this question before providing alcohol to patrons at bars and restaurants at 6:00 am.
Please direct questions to [email protected]

kycovid19.ky.gov - KY Healthy At Work

03/01/2021

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Public Protection Cabinet
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Andy Beshear, Governor
Kerry B. Harvey, Secretary




A Message to Licensees of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
ABC Licensee,

There has been quite a bit of confusion as to the status of the Healthy at Work guidelines for bars and restaurants.

To ensure that you have the information you need to maintain compliance and avoid any confusion, attached are the FAQs for licensees. These are the same as they have been since August of 2020. The most confusion seems to be around 3 issues including karaoke, closing times, and bar service and seating. Please know that karaoke and bar service and seating are still prohibited. Last call is 11 p.m. with closing at 12 a.m.

If there are changes to these guidelines or a lessening of restrictions, this agency will inform you immediately. Thanks for all you have done to operate responsibly in these very unusual and trying times.

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly via email at [email protected].

02/17/2021

All City of Corbin Offices will be closed for Presidents Day, Monday, 2-15-2021.

02/03/2021

12 Month Fee Waiver for Bars, Restaurants, and Related Licenses

Only applies to license renewals for certain license types.
Licensees who paid renewal fees in 2020 will not pay in 2021.
Licensees who have not paid renewal fees for 2020, will not be required to renew until 2021.

Licenses with updated expiration dates will be available in the ABC online portal in the coming days.
The following licensees will receive a 12 month renewal fee waiver:
o Brewer’s License
o Caterer’s License
o Extended Hours Supplemental License
o Limited Restaurant License
o Microbrewery License
o NQ1 Retail Drink License – convention centers, racetracks, state parks, etc.
o NQ2 Retail Drink License – restaurants, hotel restaurants/bars, airport restaurants, etc.
o NQ3 Retail Drink License – private clubs, bed and breakfasts, etc.
o NQ4 Retail Malt Beverage Drink License – supplemental for small farm wineries, breweries, etc.
o Qualified Historic Site License
o Quota Retail Drink License (bars)
o Special Sunday Retail Drink License
o Supplemental Bar License
o Entertainment Destination Center License

Contact Commissioner Allyson Taylor at [email protected] with questions.

12/30/2020

Please remember these guidelines are still in place as you go into your New Years Eve celebrations:

On Dec. 14, Kentucky’s public health restrictions and recommendations will include:
• Restaurants and bars can reopen at 50% capacity. Masks are required except when actively drinking or eating. Service must stop at 11 p.m.; establishments must close no later than 12 a.m.
• Indoor social gatherings are recommended to have no more than eight people from a maximum of two households. There is no recommended limit on the number of people from the same household. There is no limit on outdoor social gatherings.
• Gyms, fitness centers, pools and other indoor recreation facilities can operate at 50% capacity. Masks must be worn while exercising.
• Venues, event spaces and theaters can reopen at 50% capacity.
• Professional services can operate with up to 50% of employees working in-person; however, all employees who are able to work from home must do so.

12/30/2020

The City of Corbin would like to wish all citizens in our community a Happy Holiday season. As the 2020 year comes to a close we look back at what a difficult year it has been, one in which we have all been forced to adapt to a new normal. We are confident our citizens will press onward into the new year with passion for our community. City Hall will be closed January 1st for the New Year holiday. We would like to wish each and everyone of you a safe and Happy New Year and a very prosperous and healthy 2021!

12/23/2020

Corbin City Hall offices will be closed December 24 & 25th, 2020 for Christmas Holiday. We would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Safe Christmas!

12/11/2020

On Dec. 14, Kentucky’s public health restrictions and recommendations will include:

All public and private middle and high schools will continue remote instruction until Jan. 4, 2021. Elementary schools can return to in-person learning once their county is out of the red zone.

Restaurants and bars can reopen at 50% capacity. Masks are required except when actively drinking or eating. Service must stop at 11 p.m.; establishments must close no later than 12 a.m.

Indoor social gatherings are recommended to have no more than eight people from a maximum of two households. There is no recommended limit on the number of people from the same household. There is no limit on outdoor social gatherings.

Gyms, fitness centers, pools and other indoor recreation facilities can operate at 50% capacity. Masks must be worn while exercising.
Venues, event spaces and theaters can reopen at 50% capacity.

Professional services can operate with up to 50% of employees working in-person; however, all employees who are able to work from home must do so.

12/01/2020

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Executive Order 2020-968 11/30/2020

The function of Executive Order 2020-968 which went into effect on November 20, 2020 is to facilitate mask wearing in all public locations. All restaurants and bars must cease all indoor food
and beverage consumption. Food courts are included in this order. Food service may be provided outdoors at tables with a maximum of eight people per table, with tables spaced at least six feet
apart. Tent guidance is available on the Healthy at Work website.

Q: What is new?
A: Bars and Restaurants are closed to indoor food and beverage service. Curbside pick-up, delivery and carry-out are permissible and encouraged. Outdoor table seating is also permissible.
Q: Does curbside pick-up, delivery and carry-out have to follow an 11:00 pm last call and 12:00 am (local
time) closure?
A: No, these services may continue past midnight.
Q: Is service at outside eating areas required to end at 11:00 pm with a 12:00 am closure time?
A: Yes.
Q: Does the order apply to event venues?
A: Yes. Event venues should operate with 25 people or less per room and there should be no indoor food or drink consumption.
Q: Does the order apply to samplings?
A: No. However, sampling events must continue to comply with Healthy at Work Guidelines and outdoor sampling is encouraged.
Q: Do the new guidelines apply to distilleries, microbreweries/breweries, or small farm wineries?
A: Yes, indoor consumption of food and drink at bars and restaurants operating inside distilleries, microbreweries/breweries, and small farm wineries, is prohibited.
Q: May a licensee expand outdoor seating in a parking lot, yard or other adjacent area?
A: The licensee may put tables in its parking lot/back yard, etc. if the area is part of its deeded/leased
property without further steps related to alcohol licensing. Servers can bring the alcohol from inside the
restaurant/bar outside to the patrons at the tables.
If the business somehow expands the outdoor area to a different parcel that isn’t in its deed/lease (for
example, a neighbor business allows them to use their portion of a backyard or parking lot), the licensee
will need to send a letter of material change to notify ABC (an email will suffice).
If the business wants to set up an additional bar outside with its outdoor seating, a supplemental license is
required.
*Any action related to expanding outdoor seating or structures also requires compliance with the
regulatory authority of the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction. By way of
example only, occupancy permits may be based on plumbing facilities sufficient to serve the intended
capacity. Expanded outside capacity must be consistent with these requirements. By way of further
example, certain temporary outdoor structures and certain types of tents may require a Certificate of
Occupancy from the Kentucky Department of Housing, Building and Construction before utilization.
If an establishment uses a tent, at least 50% of the tent perimeter (e.g., 2 sides of a square tent)
must remain completely open at all times and six (6) feet of space must be maintained between
customers at different tables. If an establishment uses a tent with fewer than 50% of the perimeter
(e.g., for a square tent, fewer than 2 sides) completely open, that tent is considered interior space
and, therefore, food or drink service or consumption is prohibited.
Q: May restaurants continue to provide alcohol to go with curbside service, carry-out and delivery orders?
A: Yes. Alcohol “to go” must accompany food orders. Bars may not offer mixed drinks or other alcohol by the drink, for curbside service, carry-out, or delivery unless it is served with food and the bar has a food permit.
Q: Are bar and restaurant patrons permitted to play pool, darts, corn hole, or other activities requiring patrons to be out of their seats while in the establishment?
A: All patrons must remain masked and the establishments must operate at no more than 33% capacity.
There should be no indoor consumption of food or drinks. Any activity where patrons are unmasked is prohibited.
Q: Does the order apply to bowling alleys, gaming facilities, activity centers, pool halls and similar establishments?
A: Yes. These facilities must operate at no more than 33% capacity and there is to be no indoor consumption of food or drink.

Please direct questions to [email protected]

11/25/2020

Corbin City Hall offices will be closed November 26th & 27th, 2020 for Thanksgiving Holiday. We would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

11/19/2020

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Crystal Staley
502-545-3714

Sebastian Kitchen
502-330-0799
502-564-2611

Gov. Beshear Implements New Restrictions to Save Lives
Economy remains open with new, targeted measures to help stop rampant COVID-19 spread

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 18, 2020) – Following a record 33 deaths announced Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear is issuing new restrictions that will help stop the rampant spread of COVID-19 and save Kentuckians’ lives while keeping the economy open.

With more than 250,000 American lives, including those of more than 1,700 Kentuckians, lost to the virus, Gov. Beshear is joining state executives from across the country in implementing new restrictions.

“Since March 6 – the day Kentucky had its first confirmed case – we have been under attack and at war with the coronavirus. It has upended our routines, damaged our economy, threatened our children’s education and taken far too many lives,” Gov. Beshear said. “Now, it is time for Kentucky’s third counterattack on the coronavirus. Let me be clear about a few things. This is not, and will not be, a shutdown. Our economy is open, and there will be no closings based on essential or nonessential services. But today we are announcing significant, but surgical and targeted steps designed to slow the spread of the virus and protect our people.”

While Kentuckians sacrificed a lot to keep Kentucky cases comparatively low early on, the state has experienced a 400% increase in positive cases over the past nine weeks, and the third spike shows that Kentuckians need to buckle down and comply with existing orders, like wearing a facial covering, while adopting new requirements.

The Governor said requirements for restaurants; bars; social gatherings; indoor fitness and recreation centers; venues and theaters; and professional services are effective at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. See the full executive order here.

Restaurants, Bars – No indoor food or beverage consumption; carryout and delivery encouraged; socially distance outdoor seating

To help offset the financial impact on restaurants and bars, the Governor also announced he is dedicating $40 million in CARES Act funding to provide qualifying entities $10,000 in relief for various expenses, with a maximum award of $20,000 per business entity. Businesses with at least 50% of their sales via drive-through will not be eligible. To focus on locally owned businesses, publicly traded companies are not eligible to apply. Applications are scheduled to open Nov. 30 and close Dec. 18. Businesses will be required to remain in compliance with all public health orders. Applications will be processed in the order they are received, and funds will be awarded until they are exhausted. Additional details on where to apply will be forthcoming.

Earlier this month, the Governor also waived alcoholic beverage renewal fees for Kentucky restaurants, bars and temporary venues for 12 months to help during the pandemic.

Private social gatherings – Up to eight people from a maximum of two households

Gyms, fitness centers, pools, other indoor recreation facilities – 33% capacity limit; group classes, team practices and competitions prohibited; masks must be worn while exercising

Venues, event spaces and theaters – Each room will be limited to 25 people. This applies to indoor weddings and funerals, but excludes in-person worship services, for which the Governor will provide recommendations Thursday.

Professional services – Office-based businesses limited to 33% of employees; all employees who are able to work from home must do so; all businesses that can close to the public must do so

In addition, new requirements for schools will begin Monday, Nov. 23. See the executive order here.

Schools – All public and private schools (K -12) to cease in-person instruction:

Middle and high schools will remain in remote or virtual instruction until at least Jan. 4, 2021.
Elementary schools may reopen for in-person instruction Dec. 7 if their county is not in the red zone and the school follows all Healthy at School guidance.

“As for our schools, I want to thank everyone who is working to continue to educate our children and to make sure they have access to healthy meals,” Gov. Beshear said. “Our children are resilient, but they are sacrificing so much and we need them to sacrifice even more right now so we can protect them from this surge in cases.”

Wednesday’s Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:

New cases today: 2,753
New deaths today: 15
Positivity rate: 9.13%
Total deaths: 1,712
Currently hospitalized: 1,553
Currently in ICU: 359
Currently on ventilator: 176
Top counties with the most positive cases today are: Jefferson, Fayette, Boone, Kenton, Warren and Christian.

The red zone counties for this week can be found here.

Those reported lost to the virus today include a 15-year-old girl from Ballard County; a 60-year-old man from Barren County; a 75-year-old man from Caldwell County; a 90-year-old man from Calloway County; two women, ages 78 and 91, from Christian County; an 87-year-old man from Clay County; a 43-year-old man from Fayette County; a 78-year-old man from Hancock County; two women, ages 32 and 73, from Jefferson County; a 78-year-old man from Marshall County; a 68-year-old woman from McCracken County; an 86-year-old woman from Nelson County; and a 79-year-old woman from Pike County.

More Information
To view the full daily report, incidence rate map, testing locations, long term-care and other congregate facilities update, school reports and guidance, red zone counties, red zone recommendations, the White House Coronavirus Task Force reports for Kentucky and other key guidance visit, kycovid19.ky.gov.

Thanksgiving Guidance

English: Full Guidance; One-Pager; Single Slide
Spanish: Full Guidance; One-Pager; Single Slide
Recorded PSAs (in partnership with RadioLex): Bosnian; Chinese; English; French; Japanese; Korean; Persian; Russian; Spanish
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