14 additional coronavirus cases confirmed in Fayette County, doubling the count to 28
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department says there are now 28 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Lexington, doubling the amount announced Monday evening by Gov. Andy Beshear.
The numbers include Fayette County’s first reported death from the coronavirus, which also was announced Monday.
Beshear, who is expected to provide another update at 5 p.m, has confirmed only 14 cases of COVID-19 in Fayette County. Statewide, he confirmed 124 cases Monday evening, but that total is now at least 156.
The health department provided no demographic information about the 14 newest patients.
Kevin Hall, a spokesman for the health department, said some recent COVID-19 cases in Lexington came from a small party where someone without symptoms unknowingly spread the virus to others.
“We cannot stress this enough: people need to practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible!” Hall said. “Don’t invite friends over for board games, puzzles, a party or any other forms of socializing, even if it’s less than 10 people.”
On Monday, the health department said sustained person-to-person spread of COVID-19 is occurring in Lexington “because not all new cases can be connected to previous cases or to travel outside of the community.”
“Although the number of cases is still low, cases are expected to increase,” the department warned.
Tuesday also marked the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in Boone County, Campbell County, McCracken County and Webster County. As more testing has become available, the number of confirmed cases has continued to grow and reporting has become more complicated.
“As they’re coming in from all the different labs and as the confirmation process is slow, it’s going to take a day or two for all the data that you get from different localities and from us to match up,” Beshear said Monday.
Hall said the number of cases increased so dramatically largely because of lag time in reporting from the governor, but added that the number of cases is doubling every day nationally.
“We cannot stress this enough: people need to practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible,” Hall said. “Don’t invite friends over for board games, puzzles, a party or any other forms of socializing, even if it’s less than 10 people.”
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 3:27 PM.
