Lexington COVID-19 cases continue to soar, nearly 900 reported on Tuesday
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department announced 894 new COVID-19 cases for Tuesday.
That brings the seven-day rolling average up to at least 700, according to the health department. Both figures are new record highs for the city, and it’s possible the new COVID case count could go up as the health department continues to work through a backlog of tests.
Just nine days ago the health department reported 550 new Covid cases, which at the time was a record.
The health department said 126 Fayette County residents are hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday morning. That number does not include people from other counties in Lexington hospitals.
Twenty four of the 126 patients are in the ICU, and 16 of those patients are on a ventilator, per the health department.
According to the health department, 84% of the local Covid patients are unvaccinated. 92% of the patients in the ICU are unvaccinated and 94% of the patients on a ventilator are unvaccinated.
The health department along with health experts in Lexington continue to urge people to get vaccinated if they aren’t already. The health department offers same-day vaccinate appointments every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Public Health Clinic on Newtown Pike.
Call 859-288-2483 to schedule an appointment.
If you are experiencing symptoms and need to get a test, health experts are encouraging people to get tested away from local emergency rooms due to the overcrowding in hospitals. People who get tested in an emergency room get charged for an ER visit while people who get tested at Wild Health do so for free.
The city of Lexington is working with Wild Health to set up an additional testing location, said Mayor Linda Gorton during a Tuesday Lexington council work session.
The demand for testing has lead to long lines at some COVID-19 test sites, including the Wild Health site at the University of Kentucky’s campus.
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman Jennifer Reynolds, who is also on the health department’s board, said there are multiple testing options available, including through the Fayette County Public Schools. Most pharmacies also offer COVID testing.
To find all current COVID-19 testing locations go to www.lexingtonky.gov/COVID-19/Drive-Thru-Testing.
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 11:30 AM.
