Western State Hospital tests 139 for COVID-19, governor announces

The results are expected by mid-week.

State officials are awaiting the results of COVID-19 tests administered to 139 people at Western State Hospital, the site of one of the most serious outbreaks in Kentucky.

(CDC image)

Gov. Andy Beshear, in his daily briefing, said the tests were done Monday and that results should be available within two days. 

Twenty-nine people, including two who died last week, have tested positive for COVID-19 at the psychiatric hospital on U.S. 68 on the east side of Hopkinsville. 

The number of cases, which includes 13 patients and 16 employees, did not increase from Sunday to Monday. However, the number will likely increase as the large number of test results become available. 

Meanwhile, the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Christian County increased by just one for a total of 70 on Monday, the county health department reported.

The number of local confirmed cases by age group are:

  • Pediatric (0-21): 3
  • Young Adult-Middle Age (22-59): 41
  • Older Adult (60-84): 23
  • Elderly (85+): 3

There are 38 active cases in Christian County, while 29 people have recovered from the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Three people, including the two cases at Western State, have died. 

(Jennifer P. Brown is the editor and founder of Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org.)

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.