Memorial event held on anniversary of first COVID-19 case in Kentucky COVID-19 memorial on anniversary of first case and last updated 2021-03-06 20:02:44-05 FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) â To honor those lost to COVID-19, Governor Andy Beshear held a memorial Saturday afternoon at the State Capitol, on the one-year anniversary of the first recorded case of COVID-19 in Kentucky. Itâs been a year that first responders, healthcare workers and anyone impacted by the pandemic won't forget. âI've taken care of over 700 COVID-19 patients and 50 of those flags [on the lawn] are my patients,â said Dr. Valerie Briones-Pryor of UofL Health.