Updated: Lexington reports 3 new COVID-19 deaths. City to get a regional vaccine site
Lexington on Friday reported three new COVID-19 deaths and 219 new cases on the same day it confirmed it will have a regional vaccine site and released signup information.
With Friday’s additional fatalities, the city has reported five new deaths over the past two days.
There have been 173 total COVID-19 deaths in Lexington. Eight of them have occurred in the first 14 days of January. It’s possible more have occurred, but final rulings haven’t been made pending investigation, according to the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.
Separately, there are deaths from December in the process of being confirmed. December was Lexington’s second-deadliest month since the pandemic started. The death count for December as of Friday morning was 29. The one-month record was 34, set in November.
The most recent deaths included two people who were 75 or older and one who was between the ages of 55 and 64, according to the Lexington health department.
Lexington remains on pace to set a new one-month record for COVID-19 cases as of Friday. There were 3,010 new cases reported in the first 14 days of the month. Lexington’s one-month record for new cases — 6,070 —was set in November.
Vaccination site to begin accepting appointments Jan. 28
The COVID-19 vaccine isn’t available for large portions of the general public yet, but the state has partnered with Kroger to administer vaccines at regional sites around the state. Lexington will have one of those regional sites, according to the city.
The location hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s expected to open on Feb. 1. Appointment scheduling will start on Jan. 28.
The vaccines are expected to be available soon to every group targeted in phase 1. Those include first responders, anyone 70 years old and older and K-12 school personnel, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.
Vaccines currently are also being provided to veterans aged 50 or older at the Lexington VA. The vaccinations will be available Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday and Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those interested are asked to call (859) 270-3765 for more information.
The Lexington health department is also hosting vaccine clinics limited to health care workers in Phase 1A. Those interested can visit lfchd.org/covid19-vaccine.
Lexington’s major hospitals and the Lexington Clinic are also helping vaccinate frontline health care workers within their own networks and out in the community.
Lexington is following the state’s COVID-19 vaccine guidance for vaccination phases.
Mayor Linda Gorton urged residents to continue following COVID-19 health and safety guidelines as vaccinations continue.
“The good news is: there’s an end in sight,” she said in a statement.
Further information on Lexington’s vaccine updates can be found at lexingtonky.gov/vaccines.
This story was originally published January 15, 2021 at 10:16 AM.