Lexington’s 54 new COVID-19 cases push total past 3,000. Hospitalizations increase.
Lexington reported 54 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday morning, bringing the city’s total to 3,026.
Lexington’s new cases in July are more than the new cases reported in June, May and April combined, according to data from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department. There have been 92 new hospitalizations this month, an increase of about 23 percent compared to last month.
There have been 16 new coronavirus deaths this month, which is tied with the number of deaths the city had in June. The city has reported 2,266 total recoveries, using criteria recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The city’s reported recovery rate is now 75 percent.
Each of Lexington’s top 15 single-day case increases has occurred in July, according to health department data. The city has eclipsed 100 cases in a single day twice this month on July 23 (100) and July 27 (116). Lexington matched the total number of cases in June in just two weeks in July, the city health department said.
While recent trends show Lexington’s younger populations are driving the increase, Lexington’s older population is suffering the worst outcomes. Forty-five percent of all cases occurred in people 34 or younger, but nearly 70 percent of all hospitalizations and 93 percent of all deaths have been people 55 or older.
The largest number of newly-confirmed cases in Wednesday’s data were in the 45-54 age range. There were 13 new cases in that age range.
Lexington’s minority populations have been hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19. Black Lexington residents account for about 20 percent of the city’s cases and about one-third of hospitalizations, despite making up about less than 15 percent of the population.
Over a quarter of the infections occurred in Hispanic residents, but they make up an estimated 7 percent of the city’s population.
Spokesman Kevin Hall said the continued spread could potentially limit the health care system’s ability to take care of its sickest patients. Health department officials have continued to urge Lexington residents to wear a mask, wash their hands and avoid close contact with others.
On Tuesday, the health department released a statement calling on Lexington residents to “take action to protect” themselves and others.
Gov. Andy Beshear’s mask mandate is now in its third week after being put into place on July 10. After reporting 532 new cases statewide Tuesday, he said he hopes the state is seeing early signs of the mandate being effective. The state’s positivity rate decreased for the first time in four days.
“I hope that this is us starting to see – because the timing is right – where the facial covering requirement is starting to kick in and help,” he said.
The 54 cases reported in Lexington Wednesday was one of the 10 lowest weekday increases Lexington has seen since the mandate went into effect, according to health department data.
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 9:11 AM.