Mass Exposure Avoided? 8 School Positives Caught Early

Fayette County tested 161 students and teachers on day one of a week-long coronavirus testing event taking place at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange.

The testing on Monday was reserved for students and staff at local schools. Testing for the remainder of the week is open to anyone who wants to get a test, and there is no residency requirement. The County originally planned to offer testing through Friday of this week, but after the turnout on Monday, County leaders decided to extend testing until Saturday, Aug. 22.

Fayette County Emergency Management Chief Craig Moreau estimated that 70 percent of those tested on Monday were school staff and 30 percent were students. Moreau said 72 percent were female and 28 percent were male. He attributed the discrepancy between sexes to the fact that most teachers are female. He did not expect that trend to continue through the rest of the week.

Results for the testing on Monday came back Wednesday. Of the 161, there were eight positives tests, which amounted to a 4.79% positivity rate. The statewide testing positivity rate (seven-day average) was 11.18% on Wednesday. State health officials say a positivity rate above 10% was cause for alarm. More than half of those tested in Fayette County on Monday were from the La Grange zip code, Moreau said.

Those tested should receive their results in about three days, although Moreau said some might get their results back within 24 hours.