FRANKFORT, Ky. — City and county governments across Kentucky can apply for part of $300 million in CARES Act funding for coronavirus response starting Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced at his Wednesday news conference.

Watch a replay of the briefing in the player below:

To apply, local governments with COVID-19-related expenses from March 1, 2020 to Dec. 30, 2020. These expenses can include personal protective equipment, food delivery to nursing homes and vulnerable populations, necessary telework and communications improvements, and others.

“Local governments have been instrumental in the fight against COVID-19 and are a lifeline in our local communities,” Beshar said.

Local governments must apply with expense documentation on DLG’s website Thursday at 8 a.m. Funding will be allocated to governments based on population size.

Retail reopens at 33% capacity

Beshear said initial reports Wednesday indicated people have followed social distancing and cleaning guidelines in retail stores so far.

"This is how we do this right," Beshear said.

With two weeks of data, Beshear said he hopes the state will be able to increase the number of people allowed inside a store at one time. Currently, retailers can host customers at 33% capacity.

Officials recommended that customers follow social distancing guidelines, wear masks and limit the amount of time they are inside retail stores.

Malls and flea markets can also reopen Wednesday as long as staff at entrances and exits keep occupancy at 33% and adhere to cleaning guidelines. Individual stores must also enforce 33% capacity, Beshear said. Mall food courts must follow the same requirements set for restaurants.

Funeral homes were also permitted to reopen Wednesday, and houses of worship could once again host limited-capacity in-person services.

Ky. case numbers and testing

Beshear reported 10 new virus-related deaths Wednesday, and there have been 376 virus-related deaths among 8,167 total positive COVID-19 cases statewide. NKY Health reports 999 total local cases and 57 virus-related deaths as of Wednesday.

More than 2,900 people have recovered from coronavirus, and more than 158,600 people have been tested.

Beshear said that the numbers for the last few weeks have been stable, and that as more Kentuckians get back to work this month, he is confident the state's healthcare system could handle a "second wave" of cases.

“I am encouraged that the number of days that it has taken to stabilize people is a lot lower than was ever anticipated," he said. “Our healthcare professionals have proven that they can get people in, get people better and get people out a lot sooner than anybody had expected.”

Residents of long-term care facilities testing positive for COVID-19 statewide hit 1,002 plus 461 staff, Beshear said Tuesday. So far, 205 residents and two staff members have died since outbreak began, accounting for roughly 60% of the state's total deaths due to COVID-19.

On Wednesday, Public Health Director Dr. Steven Stack announced that the state is administering tests in 23 long-term care facilities. The state is also issuing over 2 million pieces of personal protective equipment to 280 facilities around Kentucky, including 209,900 items of PPE like masks, face shields, gloves and gowns sent to Northern Kentucky.

A free drive-thru COVID-19 testing site will remain open in Erlanger at 25 Atlantic Ave this week. You can call 1-800-737-7900 to schedule an appointment.

For a complete list of coronavirus testing sites in Kentucky, click here.

4 children with COVID-19-related syndrome

Beshear announced that a 5-year-old and an 11-year-old have now contracted a coronavirus-related "pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome" on Monday. Beshear said the 5-year-old has since been released from a local hospital, and the 11-year-old remains hospitalized.

State leaders had previously announced that a 10-year-old and a 16-year-old had contracted the new syndrome which first appeared in New York.

Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said the 10-year-old in Kentucky had been put on a ventilator in critical condition due to a COVID-19-related inflammatory syndrome that affects young people. Beshear said that the child has been taken off a ventilator as his condition improves. The 16-year-old had been released from the hospital.

Stack said symptoms of this immune system syndrome vary and appear weeks after the child recovers from COVID-19. Possible symptoms include fever, rash, abdominal pain mimicking appendicitis, gastrointestinal problems and respiratory problems.

Stack advises parents call the Kentucky Pediatric Hotline at (800) 722-5725 for questions and more information.

What else opens in Kentucky this week?

Restaurants can reopen at 33% capacity with outdoor seating starting Friday.

Beshear said bars will likely remain closed until July because it's harder to regulate social distancing inside bars than in restaurants, but bars can still operate as restaurants by offering food service at tables outside.

Additionally, the governor's restrictions on interstate travel will expire Friday.

TIMELINE: Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana reopening plans

HAMILTON, Ohio — Concerts at the RiversEdge amphitheater in downtown Hamilton will resume on July 4, with varying degrees of social distancing, according to the Journal-News.

People willing to pay more for the outdoor shows can have more social distancing for themselves and their friends, while those wanting to economize can have less space.

More concert announcements will come soon, Helms said, including two bands joining the July 4 lineup. Two bands also haven’t been announced yet for Aug. 15.

Under the city’s plan, the city will have 8-foot-by-8-foot squares — the size of two pieces of plywood next to each other — spaced eight feet apart.

Originally, the city planned to limit each square to four people, each sitting at a corner of the square, Helms said. But: “Based on some of the feedback we received on social media, some people were concerned about the cost.”

“We intended to sell the squares for $40 to $100 per square, depending on who’s playing,” he said.

If nine people are in an 8-by-8-foot square, they are sitting immediately next to each other’s chairs, Helms said, showing a photo of people sitting in chairs in such a square.

“We believe that it’s feasible to put nine people in an 8-by-8 square for a variety of reasons, the biggest one being it increases our capacity, it allows more people to attend, and it also brings down the cost of admission,” Helms said.

Whereas a family of four might have had to pay $10 apiece for a show where a square costs $40, if there are nine people, the per-person cost drops to $4.44.

“This is our best effort to bring live music to Hamilton in some form or fashion,” Helms said.

Regal announced plans Tuesday for the reopening of its theatres beginning July 10.

A release states the reopening plans include a range of new health and safety measures based on health guidelines and feedback from employees and moviegoers.

Regal says contactless payment options and sanitizing methods will include:

• Contactless payment. Along with the ability to purchase tickets in advance on the Regal mobile app, guests will now have the ability to purchase concession items from the app.

• ULV Foggers. Employees will sanitize every auditorium and seat after each movie using new electrostatic ‘fogger’ equipment. This form of deep sanitization is highly effective in disinfecting all materials with a non-toxic formula that is fast drying.

Points of contact will be sanitized on an increased schedule, floor markers will be placed throughout, and the following safety measures will also be put in place:
Employees

• Regal employees will undergo daily health screenings including temperature checks where mandated.

• Employees will be required to wash hands at minimum every 30 to 60 minutes, dependent on job role.

• Where required by local governance, all employees and guests will wear masks.

Lobby

• Greeters will be located in the lobby to assist guests with new procedural changes.

• Guests will be encouraged to proceed to their auditorium as soon as possible, and exit the theatre in a timely manner at the conclusion of their movie.

• Wall mounted sanitizer dispensers will be available on either side of the main entrance.

• Arcade games and vending machines will remain closed. Additionally, water fountains will not be available for use.

Concession Stand

• Every other register will be closed to maintain social distancing.

• A reduced menu offering will be temporarily available.

• Self-service condiment stands will be closed.

• Refills on large drinks and popcorn will be suspended.

• Locations featuring diners, restaurants and in-theatre ordering will have these services temporarily suspended.

• Locations with bars will remain open for walk-up service only.

Auditorium

• Where required by state or county mandate, auditorium capacities will be reduced to 50%.

• Our reservation system will maintain two empty seats between groups (1 seat at recliner locations) to maintain proper social distancing throughout the movie.

• At theatres where performances are non-reserved, you will be requested to leave two seats between groups.

• Group sizes will only be limited where required by a state or county mandate.

This story was first published by WKBW.

CINCINNATI — City leaders and organizers announced celebrations Thursday for what's being called Reds "Re-Opening" Day.

Re-Opening Day is set for Wednesday, June 2 as the Cincinnati Reds take on the Philadelphia Phillies at 12:35 p.m., when capacity limits will be fully lifted at Great American Ball Park.

The decision to expand capacity came after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine set mandatory health orders to expire on June 2.

Masks inside the ballpark are still recommended, not required. The Reds will continue to offer a $10 ticket deal for those who are vaccinated on Monday-Thursday games through the end of the season.

Here's what you need to know about Re-Opening Day festivities:

• 3CDC will host a party on Fountain Square featuring bars and a live stream of the game on the big screen atop the Foundry Building.
• Bally Sports Ohio and the Reds are giving fans a special $5 ticket offer for Re-Opening Day. Fans can buy $5 View Level tickets now through Monday night at reds.com/Bally.
• The DORA District at the Banks will open at 11 a.m., and bars and restaurants throughout downtown will be encouraged to be open with “Re-Opening Day” specials and activities.
• The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber and Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau are offering a special discount on tickets to their members, with details to be delivered directly to members today.
• The Convention Center, Tyler Davidson Fountain, Fifth Third Building and other buildings throughout the city will be lit up in red to support the team on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mayor John Cranley and Hamilton County Commission President Stephanie Summerow Dumas proclaimed via ceremonial resolution that June 2 is a “half-day holiday." Both encouraged everyone to come to the Reds game and visit the designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA) District at the Banks.

Cincinnati Bell CEO Leigh Fox announced Thursday that the company is also giving employees a half-day and urging them to come downtown to go to the game or support small businesses. FC Cincinnati President Jeff Berding said the light fins at TQL Stadium will be illuminated in red on Tuesday and Wednesday to celebrate Re-Opening Day.

And of course, everyone in the region is encouraged to wear red on Wednesday to support Re-Opening Day.

One thing that will be missing this year is Findlay Market's Opening Day Parade. Parade Committee member Jeff Gladish says while most organizers would love to participate in a parade, there was just too little notice this time around. It usually takes five months to plan the parade, and he said one week to organize floats and participants just wasn't feasible.

The Opening Day parade next year is going to be much, much bigger than ever before, he said.

CINCINNATI — After a 16-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Cincinnati Museum Center announced Saturday it plans to reopen the Children's Museum July 1.

Museum officials said recent consultation with health care professionals and new guidance from the CDC on masking and social distancing has paved the way for a safe reopening.

“We’ve been working closely with healthcare professionals and following CDC guidelines over the past several months to determine when we can responsibly reopen our Children’s Museum in a safe way that still delivers a premier learning-through-play experience,” said Museum Center president and CEO Elizabeth Pierce in a news release.

Guest capacity will be limited in the Children’s Museum to continue to allow social distancing, and the museum is implementing the same strict cleaning protocols it has been following in its other museums. Masks will be required in the museum to protect those who are not vaccinated, including children not yet eligible and those with underlying health conditions.

Updates on ticketing, member benefits and availability will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We know we’re not the only ones who will have this day circled on our calendars,” Pierce said. “Seeing kids climb through The Woods, splash through Waterworks and have those transformative moments of joy and epiphany are some of our most fulfilling moments as museum professionals.”

Along with the Children’s Museum, CMC anticipates reopening its STEM-in-action Science Interactives Gallery, presented by Procter & Gamble, this summer. The updated Ice Age Gallery, closed since the start of Union Terminal’s restoration in July 2016, will also reopen on July 1.