Update: Lexington reports 24 new COVID-19 cases, 1 new death. 64 cases in last 2 days
There were 24 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death reported by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department Friday.
Friday’s reported death was a woman in her 70s, health department spokesman Kevin Hall said. That makes 64 new cases and two new deaths in the last two days. Lexington reported 40 new cases Thursday, the most in a single day since early May.
Twenty-five of the new cases announced Thursday and Friday were from Lexington’s Hispanic community, which has been disproportionately affected by the virus, according to health department data. To increase testing of minority residents, Lexington previously announced it would offer mobile testing sites, and the Cardinal Valley Elementary site is open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.
There were 105 people tested at Friday’s mobile testing site, according to Karlie Lujan, access and functional needs coordinator for Lexington Emergency Management. Test results are expected to come back in 48 to 72 hours, she said.
“For the first day, it went fairly well,” she said. “...We’re hoping to test more the next two days, just because word of mouth, you know, and the later hours.”
Fifteen of Friday’s new cases came from people in the 18 to 34 age range, according to health department data. Only two of Friday’s new cases were people 55 or older. The majority of Thursday’s new cases occurred in that age range, according to health department data.
The seven-day rolling average of cases has begun to trend upward again after briefly declining.
Thursday’s death was a man in his 60s who was a resident at Pine Meadows nursing home, health department spokesman Kevin Hall said. It was the second COVID-19 death among Pine Meadows patients. The first was reported Tuesday.
Seven of the city’s new cases Thursday were from long-term care facilities, Hall said. Four were residents and three were employees.
Thirteen of Thursday’s cases were connected to Keeneland, which has had more Lexington workers test positive since businesses started reopening than any other employer in the city, according to health department data. Keeneland’s chief operating officer said previously that the racetrack is doing its best to combat the spread, and Hall agreed.
“Keeneland has done everything that they can in working with us,” Hall said. He said the health department has daily phone calls or email conversations with Keeneland representatives to help them determine how to best to handle the infections.
Between May 27 and June 19, the track had 27 cases. Most were among backside employees who work at Keeneland but not for Keeneland. Other employers with multiple positive workers since May 9 included the University of Kentucky; Clay Ingels, a building materials supplier; and Super Mercado Acquascaliente.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 10:25 AM.