Coronavirus updates: JCPS releases pandemic plan in preparation for virus reaching Kentucky

© Merlin The coronavirus has not yet reached pandemic levels, health officials say, but Louisiana educators are preparing for the appearance of the virus here and how it could impact schools.

While the COVID-19 coronavirus continues its spread across the United States and the world, Kentucky is preparing to test patients for COVID-19 in a state laboratory.

To date, all tests from Kentucky have been sent to Atlanta to be run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Department for Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said Kentucky's lab is "actively open for business to receive specimens" as of this week. 

Going forward, all tests from Kentucky will be done in Frankfort, and any positive samples will be sent to the CDC for final confirmation. 

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 Kentucky has not yet seen any cases.

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Five people in Kentucky have been tested for coronavirus. Four of the tests were negative, and the fourth is pending results, Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said on Thursday.

Additional tests were authorized on Thursday, Stack said, though he did not specify how many.

However, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters he believes the state will eventually see a case.

"As we look moving forward, being prepared is incredibly important," Beshear said. "I believe that at one point we will see a case, and having the extra time to prepare is critically important."

Some Kentuckians who recently returned from countries affected by the outbreak are self-monitoring for the virus.

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Barbara Fox said about 90 people are being monitored by the state health department, and most have already passed the 14-day incubation period, which is the length of time during which symptoms can appear. 

More: Here's what you should know about the coronavirus in Kentucky

Also: A Q&A with Louisville health department to answer questions about the coronavirus

JCPS releases pandemic plan

Jefferson County Public Schools sent an email to parents and staff Wednesday night about precautionary steps it says are being taken to prevent spread of the coronavirus. 

The school system is at level three of its Pandemic Viral Event Plan, which calls for a heightened level of awareness with additional precautionary measures, including "enhance districtwide disinfectant processes."

The next level is if or when JCPS is notified of suspected cases in Kentucky. The plan says it would restrict or cancel out-of-county travel for district activities and conferences as directed by the health department. 

Level 5 is when the district would prepare for possible school closures, and level 6 is when the closures would be activated in accordance with health department recommendations. 

Coronavirus reaches 16 states with 11 deaths

The virus has reached 16 states in the U.S. with more than 160 cases and 11 deaths. The first death outside of Washington state was reported near Sacramento Wednesday.

Other states that have seen cases include Tennessee, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

The worldwide death count surpassed 3,100 Monday, and the number of confirmed cases increased to more than 90,000. Though 80,000 of those have been reported in mainland China, the crisis appears to be shifting away from that country, where hundreds of patients have been released from hospitals.

Read this: Coronavirus case confirmed in Tennessee

Coronavirus having effect on sports, from canceled games to handshakes

The Atlantic 10 Conference has put handshakes on hold.

Rather than expose athletes and coaches to unnecessary risk during its conference basketball tournament, the A-10 has designated “forearm bumps” to be the appropriate gesture of acknowledgment amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus concerns have already been felt at the margins of American sport, and precautionary measures will likely grow more aggressive before the outbreak is contained.

Tuesday, citing an overriding interest in the “health and well-being of the campus community,” Chicago State University canceled four basketball games involving its men’s and women’s teams.

The NCAA formed a special COVID-19 advisory panel to help guide its next steps.

Click here to read more. 

The maker of Jack Daniel's and Woodford Reserve is feeling the effects of coronavirus

On Wednesday, spiritsmaker Brown-Forman said it was revising its earnings forecast for the year, citing an “increasingly uncertain global economic and geopolitical environment” including the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

As people cancel travel plans over fear of the virus, travel retail has become one of the Brown-Forman’s “most affected” areas in addition to its business in China, according to Chief Financial Officer Jane Morreau.

Click here to read more.

Beshear encourages employers to offer paid sick leave

Beshear called on local employers Tuesday to start offering paid sick leave if they don’t already as the state prepares for potential cases of coronavirus.

“We have got to make sure that people stay home when they’re feeling sick until we move past this,” Beshear told reporters in Frankfort.

In Louisville, employers including Brown-Forman and Humana told The Courier Journal they have plans in place to continue business in the face of an epidemic.

Various other Louisville businesses are also planning ahead and have a variety of sick leave policies.

Click here to read more. 

Passenger screened for coronavirus at Kentucky airport

A passenger at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) was screened for the novel coronavirus this weekend after a flight from Paris, according to airport officials. 

The passenger was immediately released after a screening by the airport's fire department, a spokeswoman with the airport confirmed Monday.

Airport officials said they "always want to exercise caution" and want to make sure travelers are comfortable. 

Kentucky students studying abroad coming home

Colleges in Kentucky are bringing students back from study abroad programs in light of additional COVID-19 travel advisories issued by the CDC.

WKU, University of Kentucky and University of Louisville suspended all travel to China in January after the initial travel warning was issued.

But now, the CDC also advises against travel to Iran, South Korea and Italy. 

Jay Blanton, spokesman for the University of Kentucky, said the university has 29 students in Italy and is working with them on the logistics of their return to the U.S.

UK does not believe it has any students currently in Iran.

"Effective immediately, we will not sponsor University travel by students, faculty and staff to Italy and Iran, consistent with our decisions for China and South Korea," University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said in an email to campus on Monday. "If and when other countries are designated with a heightened travel advisory, the University will cancel sponsored travel to those areas as well."

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Western Kentucky University is bringing back four students who were studying in Italy in the wake of the CDC's advisory, spokesman Bob Skipper confirmed in an email Tuesday. One student in Italy was already scheduled to finish her studies in London and is moving forward a few weeks early, Skipper said. 

"We are closely watching the other countries and the potential impact that the virus may have on future programs, but no changes yet," Skipper said. 

WKU had previously called back three students from China when the Department of State placed a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning on the country.

U of L also has suspended study abroad programs to countries with travel warnings, the Lousiville Cardinal reported. 

China and Iran have the highest travel warnings, with the CDC and Department of State recommending travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the countries. The U.S. has suspended entry of foreign nationals who have been in China or Iran within the past 14 days.

The CDC also recommends older adults or those with chronic medical conditions postpone travel to Japan.

Contributing: John Bacon, USA TODAY. Courier Journal reporters Tessa Duvall, Alfred Miller and Tim Sullivan contributed to this report. Contact trending reporter Emma Austin at eaustin@gannett.com or on Twitter at @emmacaustin. 

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Coronavirus updates: JCPS releases pandemic plan in preparation for virus reaching Kentucky