Lexington reports 29 more federal inmates with COVID-19, two other new cases citywide
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reported Wednesday that 31 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed citywide, including 29 additional cases among inmates at the Lexington Federal Medical Center.
A total of 166 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 since an outbreak at the Lexington Federal Medical Center began, according to the health department. The Federal Bureau of Prisons reports that six employees at the center off Leestown Road have been diagnosed with the illness.
The inmates make up a significant portion of the city’s cases of the illness. As of Wednesday, a total of 457 cases have been confirmed citywide, according to the health department.
Seventy of the cases have required hospital care, according to health department figures.
There have been 10 COVID-19 related deaths in Lexington, including one inmate of the Federal Medical Center who died Monday.
Lexington city officials said Tuesday the federal prison will finally start testing employees. City and local health officials have expressed frustration with the lack of cooperation from federal prison officials during the outbreak.
“There has been progress,” said Susan Straub, a spokeswoman for the city of Lexington. “The health department is taking test kits to them today and they will conduct more than 200 tests over the next several days. But they seem to lack a sense of urgency.”
Rapid testing is key to stopping the outbreak and protecting employees and inmates, Straub said.
“They need to test employees and inmates quickly so they can get this problem under control as soon as possible,” Straub said.
The medical center on Leestown Road houses 1,223 inmates and 480 employees who come in contact with inmates. Another 203 inmates are held at a minimum-security camp on the campus.
Of the 457 total cases, 238 have recovered, according to the health department. Thirty-eight of the 70 hospitalized patients have recovered.
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 3:19 PM.
