Lexington has second consecutive day with more than 300 new COVID-19 cases
Lexington reported 323 new COVID-19 cases Friday morning, marking the first time since the pandemic started that the city has had more than 300 new cases on back-to-back days.
The city reported 330 new infections Thursday morning. The city has reported 1,609 cases in the first seven days of January, setting the pace for a month that could smash November’s one-month case record of 6,070. Lexington’s rolling seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases is more than double what it was less than two weeks ago.
Lexington also reported one new death Friday morning. The city has had 25,003 total cases, 165 deaths and 1,367 coronavirus hospitalizations.
“Public health officials have been concerned about cases, hospitalizations and deaths increasing during the winter, and sadly, that’s what we are seeing across the country,” said Kevin Hall, Lexington-Fayette County Health Department spokesman.
Hall also said the health department has urged residents to not let up in following coronavirus safety guidelines because even though vaccines are being administered, they’re still “a long way away from being widely available to everyone.”
“We all share the hope the COVID-19 vaccine brings,” Mayor Linda Gorton said in a statement Friday. “Unfortunately, Lexington has had over 25,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 10 months. Until it’s our turn to be vaccinated, we must practice public health guidelines and continue to be tested.”
High case numbers over the past few days haven’t been unique to Fayette County. The state set a one-day record for new cases on Wednesday and then set the second-highest one day mark on Thursday.
Gov. Andy Beshear said the state was “in a dangerous place.”
This story was originally published January 8, 2021 at 9:22 AM.