Coronavirus 5 p.m. Wednesday

Latest numbers

Of confirmed cases in the state is holding at eight.... with four of the patients being treated in hospitals and four in home isolation.

Beshear says all eight are stable.

The governor announced today he is closing all state prisons to visitors and is urging jails to do the same.

He has also cancelled non- essential travel for state employees.

School districts have been told to develop plans to close schools on short notice.

The governor says all kentuckians should avoid crowds and large gatherings.

For that reason... he says he has canceled the annual prayer breakfast.

The governor is encouraging churches to cancel services this weekend.

Abc 36's alexus larson is in studio with one pastor's reaction.

Despite governor beshear's recommendation... there are churches choosing to keep their doors open.

One of them is first baptist church in winchester....it's holding its regular bible studies tonight... and services this weekend.

Pastor marvin king feels like the governor's recommendation came too soon.

He believes there are other places... with more people... more often... that should be encouraged to close before a church.... for example...schools.

King says his congregation is still doing what it can to keep everyone safe.

"typically we are a very huggy, touchy, feely kind of folk and so we don't do that.

We're relagating ourselves to the fist bump, the elbow touch."

Pastor king is encouraging his congregation to stay home if their sick.

He adds that if someone is concerned about being in in church with a group of people... they can watch services on facebook live.

Alexus larson, abc 36 news.

As we said... one new directive today from the governor.... suspending visitation at state prisons.

The governor also requested all jails in the state do the same.

The suspension is an effort to keep the virus from entering the population.

Justice and public safety cabinet commissioner mary noble says it was implementing a no- visitor policy was not an easy decision.

And that's a very hard decision to make because, for a confined person, seeing your family and friends on that weekly visit is very important, but there's another important fact - our confined people live their families and friends and they don't want them exposed to the virus either.

To help inmates maintain contact with friends and family... the state is allowing them a free phone call and up to two contacts through a controlled social media source.

While the governor is asking all kentuckians to avoid crowds and large gatherings... there will be a very large crowd soon at rupp arena in downtown lexington.

They're there for the start of the girls' sweet 16 tournament...the next game starting at 6:30.

Abc 36's christy bollinger is 'live' at the site with more on why people are taking the risk... to cheer on their team.

Most of the fans i spoke to say being here at rupp arena, cheering on their loved ones, classmates, and students... is more than worth the risk of getting the coronavirus.

The girls' sweet 16 tournament kicked off at noon today... and there's been several hundred people in and out of the doors here at the central bank center... with the last game tonight at 8.

Fans came from as far as pikeville..

Letcher county... bullitt county.

Elizabethtown.

They say it's important they're here to celebrate their teams accomplishments..

And making it this far... no matter the health threat.

A father of a player made the trip from e-town... to be here for his daughter.

"this is a once in a lifetime event because she's been playing ball since sixth grade and we've fell short each year so this is a once is a lifetime you gotta do what ya gotta do to be sure and support the kids and be here to support her so that social distance..

It is what it is."

At six..

I'll have more from teachers who say their district brought three bus loads full of students and staff..

Not counting those who drove themselves.

Live in downtown lexington, christy bollinger, abc 36 news, rowan county could be dealing with a possible coronavirus case.

Doctors at saint claire regional medical center say they decided to report it as a possible covid-19 case out of an overabundance of caution.

The hospital says the patient is being monitored by the state health department.

Coronavirus concerns are raining on lexington's st.

Patrick's day parade.

The st.

Patrick's parade and festival was scheduled to take place on saturday... but the city announced today it was cancelled.

The annual shamrock shuffle race has also been called off.

Louisville says it still plans to hold its st.

Patrick's day parade despite coronavirus concerns.

We have a link to the state's website with all the coronavirus information you need to know... plus the state's toll-free hotline