Lexington reports 62 new COVID-19 cases. Infections among UK students continue to climb
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reported 62 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday morning.
The city’s total number of cases is now 5,129. There have been 53 deaths, 392 hospitalizations and 4,166 recoveries since the pandemic first reached Lexington in early March.
Cases among University of Kentucky students continue to climb with 26 new infections reported Tuesday. Phase one of the UK testing initiative, which was intended to test every student returning to campus this fall, ended on Saturday. UK announced plans to re-test students in Greek life organizations after the initial testing because the school found a higher positivity rate in those groups.
Thus far, 475 UK students who are considered Fayette County residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since March. Of those cases, 354 infections have been found since Aug. 3, which is when UK started testing students as they returned to campus.
Data for UK students is available on Kentucky’s COVID-19 dashboard, but the data doesn’t match other sources. The state has reported 277 total positives and 189 active positives among UK students. As of Aug. 21, UK had reported 249 positive tests since Aug. 3.
Lexington’s 5,129 total cases since March also include inmates at the Federal Medical Center and the Lexington-Fayette County Detention Center. As of Tuesday morning, 364 incarcerated people had tested positive in Lexington.
The Lexington-Fayette County Detention Center said Tuesday night that 78 inmates and six staff members have tested positive. So far, 494 inmates and 84 staff members have been tested. The jail said it is working with the health department “for guidance and direction for the testing of additional inmates and staff.”
Nursing home and long-term care facilities have also been sources of cases. Lexington reported 218 total cases in nursing home residents as of Tuesday morning.
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 9:36 AM.