Lexington reports 117 new COVID-19 cases. Cases in children under 18 spike
Lexington reported 117 new cases of COVID-19 from Saturday and Sunday, bringing the three-day weekend total to 164 and the city’s overall total to 2,460.
There were 21 newly confirmed cases in children under the age of 18, according to the health department. There have not been any outbreaks at a particular location causing the spike in children, according to Christina King of the health department. She said the health department couldn’t comment further on whether or not the cases were family spread or if there had been an increase in children getting tested.
The under-18 age group now makes up 11 percent of total cases in Lexington. Cases in the 18-34 age range now make up one-third of all cases at about 33 percent. There have been 800 confirmed cases in that age range.
Last week, cases in people 34 and under increased by about 22 percent over the previous week.
The health department has continued to attribute case increases to people going to businesses while infectious and out-of-state travelers returning home to Kentucky, based on case investigations.
Cases in the 55 and over age range decreased by about 34 percent over the same time frames.
Total new cases were up about 39 percent over the previous week.
No new deaths were reported, and hospitalizations increased by four. There were 19 total hospitalizations for the week, a decrease compared to the previous week.
There were eight deaths last week, which was a one-week high. The spike was partially driven by a one-day record of five deaths.
There were also 76 newly-confirmed recoveries, according to health department data, which is the most in a weekend so far in July. The recovery rate is back up to about 70 percent.
To help reach Lexington’s minority populations disproportionately hit with the virus, the city and its emergency management division have been doing free tests in neighborhoods. Cardinal Valley Elementary at 218 Mandalay Road will host two test days, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, testing will occur at Valley Park, 2077 Cambridge Drive. Drive-ups and walk-ups will be accepted.
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 10:04 AM.