LEXINGTON, Ky. — It's the fourth straight week of declining COVID-19 cases in Kentucky.
What You Need To Know
- Health experts urged residents to limit gatherings for the Super Bowl
- Bar in Lexington hosted a watch part with more safety measures in place
- Kentucky saw its fourth week of declining COVID-19 cases
- CDC recommends if you develop symptoms similar to COVID-19 within 14 days of the gathering or test positive for the virus, immediately notify the host and others who attended the event
Throughout the week, health experts have urged people to limit large gatherings for the Super Bowl.
“Rooting is a strong word. As a Raider’s fan, you can’t root, but if I had to pick a dog in a fight, I’d probably pick Tampa Bay,” said Jay Caldwell, a fan from Louisville.
This time last year, the COVID-19 pandemic hadn’t fully spread across the country, so of course, things looked different for businesses hosting the big game.
“Anybody but the Bucs. Really as a Packers fan. No, I’m pulling for the Chiefs,” said Jeff Dalton, another fan from Lexington.
Both are at Banners, a bar in Lexington. Banners usually hosts a watch party for the NFL finale, but this year there are more safety measures put in place.
“Last year whereas we did our chili dog buffet all you can eat,” said Chris Geisler, general manager at Banners. “This year, instead of having the buffet, in order to kind of limit customer movement and coming in close proximity of one another to more keep them at their tables, we’re just having them order what kind of chili dogs or bratwurst they want.”
Throughout the week, Kentucky health officials have urged residents to skip the parties, including Dr. Steven Stack, Kentucky’s Public Health Commissioner.
“Before you try to go out to enjoy the game, please remember this,” Stack said on Thursday. “The current recommendations are still eight people max and two different households max. We need to not mix and match different families, that's how we get super spreader events and have the virus take off again.”
With health experts worried about large gatherings, the question remains: is this Sunday poised to become another spread of COVID-19?
“Well, I just got over COVID about five days ago. I would get out, wear my mask, but like I guess you can’t protect yourself all the time. But I think we’re coming out of it,” Dalton said.
Hopefully, the progress of declining numbers continues even after the Lombardi trophy gets taken home.
The CDC recommends if you develop symptoms similar to COVID-19 within 14 days of the gathering or test positive for the virus, immediately notify the host and others who attended the event.