Fayette sets one-day coronavirus record; no complaints about bars, restaurants
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Monday, had another one-day high with 116 new COVID-19 cases in Fayette County, bringing the city’s total to 2,972 cases, according to the Lexington Fayette County Health Department daily report.
The county has had 793 cases reported the last two weeks, the same number the county had during all of June, which had been the previous worst month.
The previous one-day high was 100, set July 23.
The county had no deaths reported Monday, leaving the total at 45 since early March.
Of the total cases, 2,196 have recovered, an increase of 70 from Monday’s report.
Since the start of July, Lexington has had 1,411 COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths.
Health Department spokesperson Kevin Hall said the department didn’t receive any complaints about bars and restaurants not abiding by mask and other requirements during the weekend, despite the governor and others sharing photos of some businesses.
If the public sees violations of the current restrictions, they must report them to the health department because the department is not patrolling.
Fayette and other counties are trying to use community “influencers” to encourage people to where masks. Powell County has kicked off a campaign to try to strengthen local mask use.
“People really do follow mask rules if people they look to follow masks,” Hall said.
The city’s highest one-day totals to date have been:
• 116 cases, July 27
• 100 cases, July 23
• 83 cases, July 9
• 69 cases, July 15
• 67 cases, July 26
• 65 cases, July 10
• 62 cases, July 6
• 58 cases, July 13
• 56 cases, July 11
• 47 cases, July 24
• 46 cases, July 1
• 41 cases, June 26
• 40 cases, June 24
• 39 cases, July 8, June 30 and June 14
According to the Health Department, reasons for the steady increase include increased physical interaction in public places, family groupings, work exposures, and clusters in long-term care facilities.
“We have been experiencing a rise in cases in Lexington since mid-May, with no sign of slowing. Unless people take action to protect themselves and their loved ones, Lexington will likely continue to have more cases, leading to potential limitations in the capacity of our healthcare delivery system to take care of our sickest patients,” the department warned in its update.
“Case investigations are showing people who report going to public businesses while infectious. People are also contagious at the start of their illness, including 1-2 days before symptoms begin, meaning it can be spread without any symptoms being shown. This is why wearing a mask is important! Remember to stay home if you are sick to avoid spreading COVID-19 to others,” the report continued.
Travel to areas with higher case numbers of COVID-19 has also been identified as a likely source of infection for some Lexington cases. The state health department has issued an advisory for travelers to Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Texas, recommending that they self-quarantine for 14 days after last leaving these locations.
The recommendations for slowing spread of COVID-19 remain the same:
• Wash your hands often
• Avoid close contact with others
• Wear a cloth face covering in public.
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