LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Most of us have returned to an almost normal life after living with pandemic restrictions for more than a year.
People are back to work, going out to eat, and traveling more.
But COVID-19 is still here, and Lexington health officials say the number of cases is rising, after weeks of decline.
Just one week ago, the health department says there was a 7-day rolling average of four new cases.
On Wednesday, they're reporting that number has risen to 24. Lexington reported 53 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the most in a single day in almost 3 months.
"Now this is nowhere near where we were during the peak of last year, into 2021, but all it takes is a few cases to start spreading and we're going to see those numbers go back up," said Kevin Hall with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Dept. Hall says close to 65% of people at least 12 years old are fully vaccinated in Lexington.
That's a good majority, but it's not herd immunity.
Statewide, the positivity rate dropped to 1.79% on June 25 but has slightly risen every day since.
Hall says there are exceptions, but most cases they're seeing are in people who are not vaccinated."But also, it's worth noting that people who are vaccinated, the symptoms have been milder for most reports. And you are less likely to have severe complications, hospitalizations, and fortunately less likely to die from COVID-19," said Hall.
There have been 35,779 total cases in the city since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 324 people in Lexington died from the virus.
The health department says people can help by doing the following:
- Getting the free COVID-19 vaccine
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick, especially those with COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, muscle/body aches, loss of taste/smell, nausea, etc.)
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Wearing a face covering in crowded public areas
The CDC says Fayette County is at a "moderate" level of community transmission. 64.2% of people living in the county have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 55.5% of Fayette County residents are fully vaccinated.
If you, or someone you know, is still looking to receive a vaccine, there are appointments available this week at the health department. You can make an appointment by calling 859-288-2483. Appointments are available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
