UK hits one-day high for new COVID cases, positivity rate tops 1 percent

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The number of University of Kentucky students testing positive for the coronavirus hit a one-day high on Aug. 15, according to the latest numbers released by the university.

As of Aug. 15, 189 students had tested positive, up from 160 students who had tested positive as of Aug. 14.

The university reported testing 17,285 students through Aug. 15, up just 364 students from the numbers released the previous day.

The positivity rate hit 1.1 percent, only the second day it had been at 1 percent or higher.

The daily test results are released by the university as it works to control the spread of the virus and establishes a baseline of student and staff infections.

Between Aug. 3 and Aug. 22, testing for all students — undergraduate, graduate and professional — will be available at no cost to students at five sites on campus and offered through a third-party expert — Lexington-based testing and genomics company, Wild Health — that has been retained by the university.

The idea is to create a baseline for university officials as plans are implemented for ongoing daily screening, contact tracing and other health measures. Using a third party for testing also will enable UK HealthCare to maintain its capacity for testing health workers, first responders and the community.

Numbers reflect results for tests conducted three days prior.

According to UK, if an individual is tested on a Monday, the swab is collected and sent to the lab that same day. Results are returned in 24-72 hours, which means the UK team of Health Corps contact tracers receive the test results some time between Tuesday-Thursday.

The team immediately begins contacting any individuals with positive results.

After contacting all positive cases, the team distributes a notification to all individuals with negative results. After those notifications are sent, the university posts the aggregate data for that testing date.