FRANKFORT, KY - On March 6, 2025, Gov. Andy Beshear and Dr. Steven Stack will join state and local officials, along with several Kentucky families to mark the fifth anniversary since the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the commonwealth.

“During the hardest times, I promised our people that we would get through our challenges, and that we would get through them together; and it was the deep well of compassion from our people that gave me the confidence to make that statement,” said Gov. Beshear. “As we mark this fifth anniversary of COVID-19 in the commonwealth, let us honor the lives lost and forever changed as we also recommit ourselves to caring for our fellow Kentuckians.”

According to state officials, since the start of the pandemic, COVID-19 has contributed to the deaths of more than 20,450 Kentuckians.

Dr. Stack, commissioner of the Department for Public Health, highlighted the spirit of community that helped Kentucky fight the pandemic: “As we commemorate five years since COVID-19 changed all our lives, I encourage us to take heart that by being kind, caring and compassionate to each other, we did get through it, and most importantly, we got through it together.”

Tomorrow’s ceremony begins at 3 p.m. EST in the Kentucky State Capitol Rotunda with the chiming of bells by Kandie Adkinson, who retired from the Secretary of State’s office. Early in the pandemic, the Governor asked Kentuckians to unite by ringing bells at 10 a.m. each day so that those who were feeling alone would know we were with them. Throughout the pandemic, each weekday at 10 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda, Adkinson rang her father’s bell 120 times to honor those lost in each county.

Gov. Beshear and Dr. Stack will provide remarks, along with Dr. Crystal Miller of the Harrison County Health Department and Prisha Hedau, a student who was inspired to tell her own story of the pandemic after tuning in to the Governor’s daily news conferences. Pastor Richard Gaines of Consolidated Baptist Church and Rabbi David Wirtschafter of Temple Adath Israel, both in Lexington, will offer prayers. The program will include vocal performances by Sandra Wiggins.