Kentucky Man Who Tested Positive for Coronavirus Guarded at Home by Police After He Refused to Quarantine

A Kentucky man who tested positive for the new coronavirus is being guarded by a police officer after he refused to quarantine.

The 53-year-old patient tested positive at the University of Louisville but left against medical advice, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a news release. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department asked the man to self-quarantine, but he refused.

The man is now being kept at home in Nelson with a law enforcement officer posted outside his home, Beshear said, according to The Lexington Herald Leader.

"It's a step I hoped I'd never have to take, but we can't allow one person who we know has the virus to refuse to protect their neighbors," Beshear said. "We've got to make sure that people who have tested positive, that we know could be spreading the virus, and simply refuse to do the right thing, do the right thing."

Beshear's office has been contacted for additional comment.

The Leader reported that Nelson County Judge-Executive Dean Watts declared a state of emergency to invoke a statute that allows him to force a quarantine.

In a Monday morning update, Beshear announced the state's first death from COVID-19.

"Sadly, last night, we lost a Bourbon County man who was treated for multiple medical conditions and tested positive for COVID-19, which was a contributing factor," Beshear said.

"My family and every Kentuckian is lifting up his friends, family and community in our thoughts and prayers. While we have taken aggressive action to combat this world health pandemic, in the days and weeks ahead, we must continue to pull together as Kentuckians to stop the spread of this virus. We are a resilient people. We will beat this virus."

As of 4 p.m. ET on Monday the state had a total of 22 positive cases, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health. A total of 317 people have been tested in the state.

Following the announcement of the state's first death, Beshear announced new measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. They included closing childcare centers (with an exception for healthcare workers), a three-month extension on driver's licenses and the closing of in-person government services.

Beshear also issued an executive order stating food and beverage sales in restaurants and bars are restricted to carry-out, delivery and drive-thru only.

There are more than 4,600 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and the death toll climbed to 85 on Tuesday, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Seventeen people have recovered.

Globally, the new coronavirus has sickened more than 182,000 people and killed more than 7,100. Almost 80,000 people have recovered.