GOV BESHEAR INT. 5-6-20

GOV BESHEAR INT. 5-6-20

Three thousand tonight our battle against covid-19 is far from over.

Joining us in a 44news exclusive interview is the man leading many of our communities through this trying time.

Kentucky governor andy beshear -- thank you for taking the time to speak with us.

"thank you and let me start, how we always start.

We are going to get through this.

We are going to get through this together."

1.

Governor -- first of all -- we've seen just a small portion of the time you have put into to keep the commonwealth healthy -- with the long hours -- 7 days a week.

On top of that -- you've received at least one credible threat -- that man now in custody -- but -- how are you and your family holding up?

"like all other families, this is a trying and difficult time.

There is the anxiety that we all feel; that i feel.

There is learning just how critical our teachers are, in having to help our kids get through those lessons.

It is answering questions that our children have about a 100 year pandemic.

Then it is about the decisions i have to make that are the difference between life and death.

So i show up every day to do my very best.

I am supported by a wonderful family at home.

I rely on my faith to know that we are doing the right thing.

There are a couple of folks out there that have made threats or may be violating some of the rules, but i believe we are more united in this state than ever before.

The support has been incredible.

The reason that we have flattened this curve; the reason that we have saved thousands on thousands of lives isn't me.

It is the people of kentucky.

I am grateful to them and i am honored to be governor of a state full of people that care about each other."

2.

Governor -- as we head into monday -- may 11th -- the first round of industries to get the green light -- will open their doors - turn on productions lines -- and hopefully bring in some much needed income -- are bluegrass employers prepared to do that safely?

"i believe that kentuckians have shown that we are willing to do what it takes defeat this world-wide health pandemic.

They have embraced the new rules and restriction to make sure we protect one another.

I have faith that with a new set of rules we can move from being healthy at home to healthy at work.

But let me mention, just because you can doesn't mean that you should.

Each individual business must meet those minimum requirements that are out there to protect people.

So if they can't get the necessary personal protective equipment, if they can't do the cleaning like it needs to be done, if they can't meet other requirements then it is not safe and they shouldn't reopen.

Everyone should have their own time table, the earliest day of which we set, to make sure that the experience that they are going to have, the people that they are going to serve, and their employees are all going to be safe."

3.

But phase one --- is really a small piece of the pie --- are numbers holding enough to look at phase two and can you give us an indication of what that will look like?*the most visible -- industry left on hold right now -- restaurants.

"phase two, we hope, will occur in june.

We hope in the next several days to get a schedule out for it.

All of this is dependent on maintaining the plateau; making sure that we can test enough kentuckians.

I am really excited about how we, as kentuckians, without anyone else's help have increased our testing capacity to a point where we will exceed all of the suggestions that are out there.

So if we can move through phase one and we don't see a spike in cases, phase two in some form will include restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, should expand the number of people allowed at an event, and we hope to get childcare in as well.

I will admit to people, this virus is hard and it is not fair.

Right now, having a phased gradual return to work in a way that we believe can be safe, doesn't include childcare.

That ignores the needs of so many that are out there, but the virus doesn't care about our needs."

4.

One major concern -- for some of our tri- state communities is the different time-lines between kentucky and indiana -- for cities like henderson -- with close ties to evansville -- local leaders tell us they*are worried about the divide.*especially as hoosier retail and restaurants open*long before kentucky's will.

Does that draw concerns for you as well?

"it does draw concern.

Retail is going to be a couple weeks.

We have retail in phase one.

But yes, indiana is a state that i work with.

Governor holcomb and i talk once a week.

But i believe our timeline is safer for our people than the timeline that indiana has.

I am not criticizing them for it.

We have had productive conversations, non of them have been political.

I have a lot of respect for him."

"but at the end of the day, it is my day to make the best decisions for kentuckians.

We are not team indiana, we are team kentucky here on this side of the river.

Let's make sure we continue to do what it takes."

Governor beshear -- anything else you would like to say to our western kentucky viewers?

"to those in western kentucky, thank you.

Thank you for everything that you have done.

You have saved thousands upon thousands of lives.

You have proven that you are willing to live your faith, and put the well-being of others over our own personal self- interests.

Western kentucky has been hit really hard and it shows that this virus isn't just an urban virus, it can come anywhere.

" "let me close by talking about something that i know, some people haven't liked, wearing a mask.

This is something that i am asking, begging, highly recommending everybody to do in public.

I will tell you, i wear this mask for two reasons.

Number one, it means i am less likely to bring this virus home to my kids.

I love my nine and 10-year-old and i love my wife more than anything else in this world.

I know this provides me a little bit of protection.

So i am of course going to do it.

The second reason i wear this, i have a duty to every other human being.

Most people who get this virus are asymptomatic meaning they wouldn't even know it.

So i wear this because i know it can save other people's lives.

Because i continue to believe that it is my job to love my neighbor as myself and do what it takes to protect those around me.

"as for the economy.

We are going to get back on track.

This isn't just a kentucky thing or a western kentucky thing.

This is the entire united states and the entire world.

But we can do this, if we can defeat a world-wide health pandemic.

If we can do it better than every in history, we can rebuild, restart, and reboot this economy.

I am looking forward to doing that with you.

We have shown that when we come together, there is nothing that we can't accomplish.

Let's beat this virus.

Let's rebuild and let's be stronger than ever."

Governor beshear -- thank you for your time -- and all your efforts to ensure a healthy commonwealth.

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