First, the reassuring news.
"This is not to say that we're going back into a new wave. We are still nowhere near where we were at the first of the year."Kevin Hall, Fayette County Health Department spokesperson
A quick look at one key metric definitely reads like a trend. Three weeks ago, the seven-day rolling average was around 30 new cases a day. A week ago, 57. And now, it’s up to 73.
And, as always, hospitalizations take a little while to ramp up as cases rise.
So that leaves officials once again walking a kind of tightrope when it comes to informing the public – remaining careful not to overdramatize any rise in cases but also making it clear that any pronouncements that the pandemic is over are premature.
Lexington reported 101 new COVID-19 cases Friday, the city’s first day over 100 in more than 2 months (March 3).
— Lexington-Fayette County Health Department (@LFCHD) May 9, 2022
The 7-day rolling average is up to 73 cases a day, compared to 57/day a week ago and 30/day 3 weeks ago.
1/2#LexDoThis #GetVaxxedYall #LexingtonKy pic.twitter.com/MXa8hwrfXq
"We need the public to understand that a dip in the numbers is likely just a temporary dip. COVID is something that, unfortunately, we're likely going to see the rest of our lives," Hall says. "Now will it be like it was at the beginning of 2022 with 1000 new cases a day? We hope not. As more people get vaccinated, as more people take the steps to protect themselves, we think that this can be under control."
But that requires vigilance and a continued effort to remind residents that vaccination, boosters, and other precautions remain vital to taming the virus.
