The state is expanding drive-thru COVID-19 testing in Lexington and Louisville, and opening it up to the general public in most locations.
Wednesday Gov. Andy Beshear efforts to dramatically scale up drive-thru testing in the state, opening up sites in Kentucky's two largest cities. In Lexington, that will include one partnership with the Walgreens location at 2296 Executive Drive starting this Friday, and a Kroger site at Bluegrass Community and Technical College starting Monday.
"These new testing opportunities will help our city move closer to ending restrictions," Mayor Linda Gorton said. "We will slowly move from being healthy at home to being healthy at work."
In response to disproportionately higher coronavirus death rates seen among African-Americans, the state will be targeting the new testing toward predominantly black neighborhoods. It will also be opening all but the Walgreens site to anyone who wants a test. Previously, drive-thru testing was limited to those with symptoms, healthcare workers, first responders, and residents at higher risk.
"At this point we want to use our capacity," Gov. Beshear said. "We want to get some extra data too about what's out there, maybe learn a little about some asymptomatic rates."
While the state announced 196 new cases and 14 deaths Wednesday, the governor said the numbers continue show an overall leveling off of COVID-19 in the commonwealth.
Also beginning Monday, the state will reintroduce certain limited medical procedures at hospitals. They include: diagnostic radiology, non-urgent emergent in-person office and ambulatory visits, and pre-anesthesia testing services in preparation for the restarting of surgical procedures.
