Beshear, Adams agree June 23 primary voting should be by mail; online portal will be created to let voters request absentee ballots

As news develops about the coronavirus and its covid-19 disease, this item will be updated. Official state guidance is at kycovid19.ky.gov.

Gov. Andy Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams agreed on procedures for the June 23 primary election, calling on Kentuckians to vote by mail and saying the State Board of Elections would create an online portal to request absentee ballots, and issue regulations to protect voters who voter otherwise, starting with in-person absentee voting at county clerks' offices, beginning by June 8.

In other covid-19 news Friday:

• The U.S. Department for Health and Human Services extended the deadline for hospitals to apply for some of the $10 billion allocated for hospitals in areas hit hardest by the pandemic; they have until 2 p.m. CT tomorrow to apply. The original deadline was yesterday.