Positivity rate decreases in Southest Pa.

>> For the second consecutive week, the coronavirus positivity rate decreased in Montgomery County and in the six neighboring counties in Southeast Pennsylvania, according to the latest week-to-week data compiled by state health officials.

Montgomery County recorded a coronavirus positivity rate of 6.9% for the period April 23 to April 29, which was a decrease from the 8.1% positivity rate recorded for the period April 16 to April 22, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard.

Health officials believe having

a positivity rate less than 5% indicates a county is controlling the spread of the virus and keeping it suppressed.

The county recorded the first two cases of the virus on March 7, 2020, and this week marks the 61st week since the virus surfaced in the county.

While all six of Montgomery County’s neighboring counties also reported decreases in positivity rates during the latest period, each of the counties still reported rates above the preferred 5% threshold.

Neighboring Berks County continued to record the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in the region, 10.7% for the sevenday period ending April 29, but it was a decrease from the 11.4% positivity rate recorded the previous week.

Lehigh County recorded a COVID-19 positivity rate of 8.3%, down from 9.5% the previous week. In Bucks County, the COVID-19 positivity rate was 7.3% for the week ending April 29, down from 9.5% the previous week.

The COVID-19 positivity rate decreased in Delaware County to 6.6% during the seven-day period ending April 29, down from 8.3% the previous week, according to state data.

Chester County recorded the lowest COVID-19 positivity rate in the region at 6.2% on April 29, down a full percentage point from 7.2% recorded on April 22.

Finally, Philadelphia’s COVID-19 positivity rate decreased to 7.7% on April 29, from 8.9% on April 22.

The statewide positivity rate as of April 29 was 7.6% which was a decrease from the 8.6% positivity rate recorded the previous week, according to state data.

Gov. Tom Wolf said the state’s COVID-19 dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the state’s mitigation efforts. The state’s weekly report is based on nasal swab tests, or the PCR, which are considered confirmed tests.

Meanwhile, state and local officials urged citizens to continue to abide by COVID-19 mitigation measures regarding the wearing of masks and social distancing, downloading the COVID Alert PA app, and getting vaccinated when it’s their turn.

COVID Alert PA is a free mobile app, offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, that uses Bluetooth low energy technology and the Exposure Notification System, created jointly by Google and Apple, to notify and give public health guidance to anyone who may have been in close contact with a person who also has the app and has tested positive for COVID-19.