LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reported 122 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, the city’s second-highest one-day case total since the pandemic began.
Although most of Monday's cases involved students returning to the University of Kentucky campus for fall classes, the health department said the spike is a city-wide concern.
"Think about students -- they work in our businesses, they attend our groceries, they go to our events," LFCHD spokesman Kevin Hall said. "It can get spread very quickly to the rest of the population."
The next concern is Labor Day weekend.
The health department said there was a spike in virus cases in the 10 to 14 days following the last two holidays because people were not following CDC guidelines.
"Wear a mask when you're around other people who don't live in the same house as you," Hall said. "Make sure you stay at least 6 feet apart. We echo what Dr. Stack and the state are saying. It's not either-or -- wear a mask and stay 6 feet apart."
Hall said the department is aware people are feeling COVID-19 fatigue but reminds people to continue to get tested.
"Just because you're tired of hearing about it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It's out there and it's spreading rapidly," Hall said.
Check here for the latest UK testing information.
Lexington has had 5,915 total cases and 58 deaths during the outbreak.
The number of reported cases has grown steadily each month during the outbreak:
- 110, March
- 143, April
- 507, May
- 793, June
- 1,702 July
- 2,538, August
Eight of Lexington’s 11 highest one-day totals were in August, with 27 days seeing 58 cases or more:
- 131 cases, Aug. 7
- 119 cases, Aug. 28
- 116 cases, July 27
- 112 cases, Aug. 27
- 105 cases, Aug. 4, Aug. 14
- 102 cases, Aug. 26
- 101 cases, Aug. 13
- 100 cases, July 23
- 91 cases, July 31
- 90 cases, Aug. 5
