Updated: Lexington reports 48 new COVID-19 cases. 8 deaths since Monday.

Lexington reported 48 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, as well as one new death. The death is the eighth coronavirus-related death this week, which accounts for almost one-fifth of the city’s COVID-19 deaths thus far.

The city reported 39 new recoveries Friday morning. New cases have outpaced new recoveries in all but two days this month, according to data from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.

“This outbreak isn’t limited to cases who ‘get COVID-19 and recover’ and ‘get COVID-19 and die’ – people can and are getting very sick,” the health department said in a statement Thursday. “Don’t let COVID-19 fatigue stop your support in slowing the spread of this illness.”

Lexington reported 69 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, the second-highest number of cases in a single day, and those testing positive were markedly younger.

There was one death Tuesday, which was a person in their 90s, the health department said.

The city has had 2,296 cases since the outbreak began in early March. Roughly a third of the total cases have occurred in the last 15 days, health department spokesman Kevin Hall said. The largest number of cases reported in a single day was 83 on July 9.

“We understand that people are tired of COVID-19; there’s definitely a fatigue among the population,” he said. “But it’s not going away and is, in fact, getting more widespread in Lexington.”

There have been 14 new hospitalizations this week, according to health department data. Fayette County has a capacity of 2,185 licensed hospital beds and 367 ICU beds, according to state data.

While there are still plenty of hospital and ICU beds available, the increase in hospitalizations is a concern, Hall said.

To date, 38 of those hospitalized for COVID have died from the virus while 115 have recovered, according to health department data.

The 18-34 age demographic continues to report the highest number of positive COVID cases, currently at 32 percent of all cases, with the 35-54 age group at 29 percent.

Hall said that the median age of travel-associated cases has been skewing younger.

“This is why the community needs to realize this isn’t just affecting senior adults,” Hall said.

While the 75 and older age group reports only 7 percent of all cases, it accounts for 54 percent of all COVID deaths in Fayette County, according to health department data.

In tweets Thursday, the health department encouraged Lexington residents to wear masks, since they can be contagious one to two days before showing symptoms.

To slow the spread of COVID, Gov. Andy Beshear mandated that masks be worn starting Friday night. Since then, many Lexington businesses have been reported for employees or customers disregarding the rules. Sixty-two complaints were lodged with the health department through the end of Wednesday, Hall said.

As part of the Mobile Neighborhood Testing Program, Shiloh Baptist Church is holding free, walk-in or drive-through testing from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Those getting tested may be asked for their health insurance information, but the test is free, even without insurance.

There are several other testing sites open throughout Fayette County.

This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 10:25 AM.