Louisville's first coronavirus case was announced Sunday night along with two other cases in the state, bringing Kentucky's total to four.

“All of the individuals are in isolation,” Gov. Andy Beshear said at a Frankfort press conference broadcast on Facebook shortly before 6 p.m. “We will have no more information on these cases at this time because this is that new.”

Besides Jefferson County, the new cases are in Fayette and Harrison counties, he said. Harrison now has two cases.

Mayor Greg Fischer said at press conference about an hour later in Louisville that it was a "matter of time" before the city saw a confirmed coronavirus case,

He and Dr. Sarah Moyer, chief health strategist, did not provide details on the Jefferson County patient, nor did they say how that person might have contracted it.

The patient is being treated at Norton Brownsboro Hospital in Louisville, according to a news release from Norton Healthcare.

The patient was tested for COVID-19 after arriving at the hospital with respiratory symptoms. Norton is working with the Kentucky Department of Public Health, Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, as well as Beshear and Fischer.

"Employees and others who may have come into contact with the patient in our care have been identified and are being contacted and evaluated," the release said.

Moyer said the city is working with state and federal health officials to contact anyone who may have been in contact with the Jefferson County resident. She also advised nursing homes and long-term care facilities to consider restricting visitors as people older than 60 with underlying chronic medical conditions are at a greater risk of contracting the virus.

Fischer said he has opened the city's emergency operations center at a level 1, allowing for greater monitoring of the situation and putting the city in a state of readiness.

This is not the same thing as declaring a state of emergency in the city, though he has not ruled that option out if needed in the future.

“As all of this evolves, that certainly is one of the steps we can take," Fischer said. "What that does, it just gives us some flexibility with purchasing and different issues in terms of overtime. It’s a standard step we’d take.”

Both Fischer and Moyer urged the public to practice "simple and powerful steps" to protect themselves: use soap and water to wash hands, avoid contact with sick people, stay home if you're sick, avoid touching your face, and cough or sneeze into your elbow.

Beshear’s update Sunday was brief, lasting for only about five minutes. News media was not present at the briefing.

The governor said he’s been communicating with Louisville and Lexington, as well as officials in Harrison County.

“We have been preparing with every minute that we have had to make sure that we can respond and respond appropriately,” he said.

A total of 21 Kentuckians have been tested for the virus, and 17 results have come back negative, he said.

"We're going to have more, and everywhere else will, too," Beshear said.

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Beshear reminded Kentuckians to stay calm, practice good hygiene and stay home if they feel ill.

The governor will hold another update for the news media at 8:45 a.m. Monday at the Capitol.

Fischer plans a press conference at 11: 45 a.m. Monday in Louisville. He will be joined by representatives from Jefferson County Public Schools, Rep. John Yarmuth’s office and the University of Louisville as well as other community partners.

As of Sunday, more than 107,000 COVID-19 infections have been reported worldwide, along with 3,600 deaths. Most of those have been in China.

In the U.S., the death toll reached 21, with all but three fatalities in Washington state. More than 500 infections have been reported across at least 30 states, but the number is rising almost as fast as tests for the virus can be conducted.

UK hospital low on protective gear

The hospital treating Kentucky's first coronavirus patient is running "exceedingly low" on protective gear as the state works to stem the spread of the illness.

"As a result of both the flu and COVID-19, supplies of personal protective equipment are exceedingly low, and many items are on backorder," Dr. Mark F. Newman, executive vice president for Health Affairs at the University of Kentucky's Chandler Hospital, wrote in a memo to the staff Friday night. "Please be frugal in the use of" the equipment.

The equipment recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention includes gloves, gowns, respiratory protection and eye protection.

Newman sent the memo roughly five hours after Beshear announced the state's first COVID-19 patient was receiving treatment in Lexington.

Louisville hospitals say they are planning accordingly.

University of Louisville Health spokesman David McArthur said its facilities are "well stocked with supplies to handle any infectious disease," while staff have been reminded to conserve resources in light of national reports of supply shortages.

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Baptist Health spokeswoman Kit Fullenlove Barry said chief medical officers and nursing officers have discussed supply conservation measures with staff.

"We are working with our supply partners to have sufficient supplies to support our operations, including personal protective equipment for our staff," Barry said.

Norton Healthcare staff are also taking steps to ensure supplies are available in case their hospitals are called on to treat patients potentially exposed to COVID-19.

"The N95 (face) mask has been identified as a valued, but potentially threatened, resource," said spokeswoman Maggie Roetker. "Therefore, we are promptly implementing a centralized strategy to ensure we protect our supply so our staff remain safe as they care for patients.

"As we are a multi-hospital system, we can shift supplies among our sites as needed."

3 health workers quarantined

Kentucky's first coronavirus patient was treated at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana before being transferred to UK's hospital. Three medical workers who cared for the patient in Cynthiana have been placed in a two-week quarantine, according to a Facebook post Saturday by their employer, Family Care Associates, which has offices in the hospital.

The workers — a physician, a registered nurse and a physician's assistant — have not shown any symptoms of the coronavirus, Family Care Associates said in the post. They are being quarantined per guidelines from the CDC.

Indiana announces second coronavirus case

A second confirmed coronavirus case was reported in Indiana.

The patient, an adult who lives in Hendricks County, has “mild symptoms” and has been isolated but not hospitalized, the state’s department of health announced Sunday.

Hendricks County is just west of Indianapolis.

The patient “developed mild flu-like symptoms” on March 2 after traveling to Boston in late February to attend the Biogen Conference, which department officials said has been linked to a dozen-plus COVID-19 cases nationally, including Indiana's first confirmed case. That person, a Marion County resident, is still in self-isolation with “mild symptoms,” officials said.

Reach Tessa Duvall at tduvall@courier-journal.com and 502-582-4059. Twitter: @TessaDuvall. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.