LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Disappointed in the number of African Americans who have been affected by COVID-19, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton asked for some help from Frankfort.
“African Americans have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in Lexington, and throughout the nation,” she said during a press conference on Thursday. “We asked Governor Beshear some time ago to help us begin to address that.”
The state responded with two drive-up testing locations, the first of which will be operational beginning Friday morning at 9 am and running through 5 pm for seven days per week. Walgreen’s will run that process at their Executive Drive location. Then on Monday, Kroger’s version will be up and running at BCTC on Newtown Pike, Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. The hope is the free testing and locations, will allow for more widespread testing throughout the community.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Gorton said, while adding it’s still not nearly enough to think about re-opening the city.
Reverend, Dr. Keith Tyler, Sr. of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church opened his remarks by accepting responsibility for the impact coronavirus has had on Lexington’s African American community.
“As a leader, I would like to apologize for the poor job we’ve done here as it relates to the status we’re in,” he said.
At the Executive Drive location, testing will be limited to first responders, healthcare workers and those over the age of 18 who show symptoms. The BCTC location will be open to the public, but you are urged to avoid coming unless you have the symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19.
Officials are expecting to have up to 200 test kits per day, and will run this program until they run out of kits.
