Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness and the city’s chief health strategist, is encouraging those participating in recent demonstrations to get tested for COVID-19, to wear facemasks and to practice other strategies to protect themselves during future demonstrations.
“We encourage those who have been participating in the demonstrations since last Thursday to get a free COVID-19 test,” said Dr. Moyer. “They can get tested through their healthcare providers or at other locations that are posted on our website.”
Dr. Moyer also encourages demonstrators to do the following as much as possible:
• Wear a face mask
• Wear eye protection (sunglasses, goggles, face shields)
• Stay hydrated
• Use hand sanitizer
• Avoid yelling – instead use signs and noisemakers
• Stick to a small group
• Keep 6 feet from other groups
“Our city has gone through some very painful events over the past months,” Dr. Moyer said, “but the Department of Public Health and Wellness continues to work to achieve health equity for all of our people and to bring about a healthier Louisville where everyone and every community thrives.”
COVID-19 Numbers
• 2651 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Louisville
o 43 new
• 172 deaths
o Three new: An 87-year old male and two individuals 90 years or older.
• 1826 recovered
o 64 new
The racial and ethnic breakout is as follows:
Race
Confirmed (80% complete)
57% White
32% Black
6% Asian
Deceased (96% complete)
64% White
30% Black
5% Asian
Ethnicity
Confirmed
16% Hispanic/Latino
Deceased
3% Hispanic/Latino
Contact Tracing
The Department of Public Health and Wellness is greatly expanding its contact tracing capacity. Contact tracing is the practice of identifying and monitoring individuals who may have had contact with an infectious person in order to control the spread of a communicable disease.
“Contact tracing is how we box-in COVID-19 as we ease social distancing protocols and get the economy up and running’” said Dr. Moyer. “It’s how we will prevent large outbreaks until a vaccine is developed and is widely available.”
The Department of Public Health and Wellness is hiring more employees to do contact tracing and the city has contracted with Lacuna Health for additional contact tracing and case management services.
“For contact tracing to work to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we need everyone’s help and cooperation’” said Dr. Moyer. “If you get a call from one of our COVID-19 contact tracers and are told you may have been in close contact with some who has COVID19, please cooperate. Please answer our call and be honest,” she said.
Contact tracers will ask about your health, housing, and employment to find out who you were close to who may have exposed to the virus, and if you have what you need to stay safe and recover.
“We can help make sure you have groceries, medicine, and other important things while you stay home and get better,” Moyer said.
Contact tracers WILL NOT ask for Social Security numbers or credit cards. Nor will they ask about immigration status. They will not share your identity with the law enforcement or immigration officials.
For more information about COVID19, including testing locations, information on contact tracing and more, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/covid19.
