Lexington reports 189 new COVID-19 cases. Keeneland will become a test site next week
Lexington reported 189 new COVID-19 cases Friday morning, the third-most in a single day.
The city’s COVID-19 spread has continuously worsened in recent weeks. The seven-day average for new cases, which has been increasing every week for over a month, has swelled to more than 180. Medical experts are worried that the community has developed fatigue over COVID-19 guidelines.
“I think everyone’s tired of this, everyone’s tired of not seeing their friends and family,” Dr. Mark Dougherty from Baptist Health Lexington said in a press conference Friday. “We have to stick it out.”
A statewide surge of cases has pushed more than 90 Kentucky counties into the “red zone,” which means COVID-19 is spreading at a critical rate through a community. The spread has brought on a new push for testing.
There are nine free testing sites operating in Lexington.
Southland Christian Church on Richmond Road is open for drive-through testing Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. No appointment is needed. Bluegrass Comunity and Technical College on Loudon Avenue has drive-through testing during the same hours. No appointment is needed.
Keeneland will host COVID-19 testing next week
Keeneland is set to begin hosting a test site next week, according to the mayor’s office. The testing was put together by the state, according to Craig Cammack, a spokesman for the mayor’s office.
The test site will be at the Keene Barn parking lot and will operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the week of Nov. 16. Appointments can be scheduled at doineedacovid19test.com.
There are also nine other places to get tested in Lexington.
The Red Mile on Red Mile Road is temporarily offering free testing as part of Lexington’s mobile testing program. The site hosted the mobile testing program this week, with free testing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It will also host the mobile testing program from Nov. 19-22. People can drive through or walk up. No appointment is required.
The University of Kentucky has testing sites available in two places: One on College Way and another at Eastern State Hospital on Bull Lea Road. Both sites operate seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are required and can be scheduled at Lexington.wildhealth.com.
Three Lexington urgent care centers on Nicholasville Road, Richmond Road and Nichols Park Drive also offer testing by appointment. Test appointments can be scheduled online at urgentcareofky.com.
The Walgreens on Executive Drive is also offering free drive-through testing seven days a week, but appointments are recommended. They can be scheduled online at walgreens.com/coronavirus.
This story was originally published November 13, 2020 at 9:45 AM.