Protests aren’t adding to Lexington’s ‘rapid’ COVID-19 spread, health department says
Lexington’s COVID-19 case total rose by 56 Monday, an increase that was not driven by new infections from the local federal prison or protests, the Fayette County health department said.
The Lexington Federal Medical Center has not had a new COVID-19 case reported since Wednesday, although it was the home of a previous outbreak and has contributed 279 of Lexington’s 928 total cases. Five of Lexington’s 14 COVID-19 deaths have been FMC inmates. There were no new deaths reported Monday.
COVID-19 is spreading “rapidly” through the city, according to Kevin Hall, spokesman for the health department. He said the increased infections without new cases at the FMC are evidence that coronavirus is “spreading throughout the entire city.”
Including Saturday, the health department has reported 81 new infections, and 116 since Friday. No case totals were released Sunday.
“Based on our case investigations, the protests are not contributing to the rise in cases we’ve seen this week and the couple weeks prior,” Hall said.
Lexington had its 10th night of protests Sunday. Many have gathered to push for police reforms or accountability following the deaths of blacks in police custody or as a result of police shootings.
Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some people may never show symptoms.
Hall said COVID-19 prevention recommendations remain the same “no matter the reason anyone is going out into the public.” He advised Lexington residents to wear a mask that covers their face and nose, wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, and maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others.
This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 10:17 AM.