Kentucky now up to 99 cases of coronavirus, including first case in Jessamine County
Kentucky now has at least 99 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the Kentucky Department of Public Health, including the first case in Jessamine County.
The number of confirmed cases has increased rapidly in Kentucky as more testing sites — including at least two drive-through testing sites in Central Kentucky — have gotten up and running. There are at least eight labs doing testing in Kentucky now, but the tests are still being limited to those who present symptoms of COVID-19.
There have been at least three COVID-19 related deaths in Kentucky so far and officials expect the number to increase in the coming weeks.
The Jessamine County Health Department confirmed its first case Saturday, saying a 25-year-old man had tested positive and was being treated in home isolation. The Jessamine County Health Department has started contact tracing and anyone who had close contact with the patient will be instructed on quarantine measures.
“To those individuals who live, work, eat, pray and play in Jessamine County, I assure you that JCHD is doing everything in our power to keep the public protected from this disease,” said Randy Gooch, Executive Director of Jessamine County Health Department in a press release. “And we appreciate the support from our community, partners, and state and local leaders regarding these efforts.”
Sunday, the Madison County Health Department announced that the county had a second confirmed case. The person was in isolation and recovering at home, according to the announcement. It was not immediately clear if that was included in the state’s total of 99 cases or an additional case.
Madison County confirmed its first case of the virus on Saturday, and that person was in isolation at Baptist Health Richmond, according to the county health department.
Church parking lots across Lexington were empty Sunday morning as people appeared to follow Gov. Andy Beshear’s advice to halt in-person church services. In other parts of the state, dozens were told to self-quarantine after church services last weekend in Pulaski and Calloway counties potentially exposed members to the new coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 11:01 AM.
