LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Kentucky football team is getting ready for an out-of-state bowl game, but the roads around Kroger Field looked as if Cats were about to take the field for a home game against Florida.
“I am so grateful that everyone here is willing to get tested. And willing to wait in this line,” said Emily Spivey with Wild Health.
Wild Health partnered with UK nearly two years ago, when COVID-19 first began to spread in Kentucky. Nearly two years (and several variants later), we’re still in need of this vital resource.
“I grew up here in Lexington and will travel back to my new home, so I just want to make sure I’m safe and keeping my community safe,” said Lucy Arthur-Paratley, of her reason for being tested.
Allyssa Trent braved this long line for other reasons.
“I have older people in my family and a niece and nephew who are little babies, so we’re just doing everything we can to not make them sick,” she said after being tested.
Both the rapid and PCR tests are being offered here at the College Way site, and the wait time for results of those vary.
“For the rapid, it’s 12-24 hours, and PCR is 48-72 hours,” Spivey said.
"What someone does with that wait time is how we can ultimately reduce the wait times on these lines. Because whether you got tested with or without having symptoms, community spread won’t weaken until people know of their status and adhere to experts’ guidelines."
“Be safe and wear a mask, is the best advice I can give,” Spivey offered.
Another test recipient we spoke with said she came because she has most of the symptoms associated with the virus. She’s vaccinated and said she would ride this out at home while waiting for the test result.
Lucy said it’s been five days since she arrived in Lexington. She knows if she was infected yesterday, for example, it wouldn’t be enough of an incubation period to garner a conclusive result, but she still felt compelled to do this before continuing on with the rest of her travel plans.
“I am super appreciative of the governor and the mayor and all the people who help make this happen,” she said before moving ahead on the line.
The line, just before noon, was moving at a decent pace, and it didn’t seem as if anyone was waiting for more than 30-40 minutes. The College Way site is by appointment only, but you can make a same-day appointment.
“We’re doing our best to get people through” (quickly), Spivey said of her Wild Health staff members.
Testing at this site is free, but by appointment only.
Click here to learn about other areas in Lexington where you can get a COVID-19 test.
