Lexington starts September with 122 new COVID-19 cases. Majority are UK students
Lexington reported 122 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, many of which were University of Kentucky students.
The city’s total case count rose to 5,915.
This was the first day of reported cases for September as test results for the previous day are released in the mornings. August featured more new cases and hospitalizations than any other month for Lexington, according to data from the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.
UK cases continue to grow. There were 89 new cases among UK students reported Wednesday morning. There have been 760 UK student cases since Aug. 3, when UK began testing those returning to campus. UK students currently account for 880 of Fayette County’s total cases since March, according to health department data.
The Lexington health department number only counts students who live in Fayette County or decide to quarantine in Fayette County. The total includes students living off campus.
On Wednesday, UK released new data reflecting total student cases as of Aug. 30. UK Health Corps had identified 723 total cases among students. There were 435 active cases and 288 recovered cases. The new numbers include students who were tested off campus, as long as UK was notified of the positive test result.
There were 78 students living in isolation facilities. Of those, 53 were living in campus isolation facilities. The campus isolation facility capacity is 169, according to UK’s COVID-19 dashboard.
The university said 25,373 UK students in total are required to test because they are physically coming to campus. Those who haven’t yet been tested have been contacted by UK, according to the COVID-19 dashboard. UK is primarily focusing its COVID-19 efforts on students who are living on or coming to campus.
“Our focus in testing has always been – and will continue to be – students who will be on campus for any reason,” UK spokesman Jay Blanton said.
He also said there are a number of factors beyond just case count and positivity rate that the university is considering, including availability of personal protective equipment, critical care beds, isolation and quarantining space, the capacity to provide a residential research experience, and the ability to provide other core student support services such as housing and dining.
Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday that using hospital bed counts for college students probably isn’t a good measuring tool for when to cancel in-person classes.
“Certainly, it can’t be how many ICU beds or how many ventilators are free,” he said. “I don’t think we should make that be the criteria for our young people.”
Beshear also complimented UK’s “robust testing.” UK tested from Aug. 3 to Aug. 22. UK also said it was retesting students in Greek life due to a higher positivity rate in that demographic.
In addition to testing, UK has utilized a daily screening program in order to identify COVID-19 symptoms. UK made it a requirement for students and employees who go to campus to complete the screening every day. About 65 percent of the UK population is completing the daily screening — 73 percent of all students and 43 percent of all employees — according to the dashboard.
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 9:26 AM.