Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Trend of declining cases continues
WEST CHESTER >> Vaccines along with mitigation efforts appear to be making an impact in Chester County as the trend of declining COVID cases continues.
The number of people testing positive for coronavirus last week has nearly been cut in half from the number of people testing positive four weeks ago, according to the Chester County Health Department. Last week, 643 people tested positive, compared with more than 1,100 four weeks ago. In neighboring Delaware County, 798 people tested positive last week, and 1,152 people tested positive four weeks ago.
The trend mirrors that of the United States where, on average, the number of daily new coronavirus cases in the United States
is declining. In the past two weeks, coronavirus cases in the United States has declined in all 50 states. Still, anywhere from 1,500 to 3,500 people on average are dying in the nation.
To date, 685 Chester County residents have died of coronavirus, and just over 27,000 people have tested positive. The 20 to 39 age bracket continues to have the highest number of people who have tested positive.
Hot spots in Chester County this week for coronavirus are Oxford, with 7.56 percent of the population testing positive, followed by Atglen, with 7.23 percent, Penn Township, Coatesville, 6.9 percent, 6.49 percent, Valley Township, 6.33 percent, Caln Township, 6.07 percent, South Coatesville, 6.06 percent, Elk Township, 5.87 percent and Thornbury Township, 5.77 percent.
Of the county’s 75 long-term care facilities, 425 people have died, and nearly 2,500 have tested positive. Of those who died of COVID, more than 73 percent are in the 80 to 100 age bracket. Females account for the majority of long-term care residents testing positive, according to data from the Chester County Health Department.
“We need to make sure everyone has access to vaccinations in Chester County and throughout the region,” said Josh Maxwell, county commissioner.
Attending a wedding, funeral, sporting event or religious gathering is the most riskiest way to catch coronavirus, according to data collected by the Chester County Health Department.
In Pennsylvania, there are 2,447 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, and Of that number, 504 patients are in the intensive care unit. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
The trend in the 14-day moving average number of
hospitalized patients per day has increased by nearly 2,300 since the end of September.
Statewide percent positivity in Pennsylvania is 8 percent. Last week, 326,850 doses of the vaccine were allocated to counties.
To date, of the 2.7 million doses allocated through February 20, the Health Department has administered 1,7 million doses.
There are 104,768 individuals who have a positive viral antigen test and are considered probable cases and 637 individuals who have a positive serology test and either COVID-19 symptoms or a highrisk exposure.
There are 3.7 million Pennsylvania residents who have tested negative to date.
In licensed nursing and personal care homes, there are 65,555 resident cases of COVID-19, and 12,695 cases among employees, for a total of 78,250 at 1,556 distinct facilities in all 67 counties. Out of total deaths reported, 12,023 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.
Approximately 24,195 of total COVID cases in the state are among health care workers.
Last week, the Chester County Health Department sent out emails to people who qualify for Phase 1A, and who were “next on the list” with the Chester County Health Department for the COVID-19 vaccine. The email included a personalized link and password to
enable them to schedule an appointment. That information was shared via email and social media – resulting in many COVID-19 vaccine appointments being taken from people age 75 and over, or with certain medical conditions, who were directly contacted by the Chester County Health Department.
Every person who scheduled an appointment using the shared link is being notified that their appointment is cancelled. If any of those individuals have already registered their interest with the Chester County Health Department to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, their name remains within the database in the order in which it was received, and in the Phase in which they qualify.
Chester County and Delaware County continue to vaccinate groups in Phase 1A to include the individuals 65 and older, and individuals between the ages of 16-64 with certain medical conditions. Vaccine supply remains limited and appointments are opened as more vaccine becomes available.
States will see their allocation of doses rise to 11 million per week beginning next week, up more than 2 million weekly doses since President Joe Biden took office. Since the vaccine was authorized in late December, about 33 million people in the U.S. have received shots.
About 10 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. About 3 percent has received both doses.