County on cusp of ‘low risk’ virus transmission

WEST CHESTER >> For the fourth week in a row, the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in Chester County has declined.

The trend is likely to continue into the summer, officials said, as Chester County’s vaccination rate nears 70 percent, the best in the state.

The trend is nationwide as the U.S. recorded 21,767 new coronavirus cases yesterday, the lowest daily total in 11 months.

According to the Chester County Health Department, 448 people tested positive for the virus last week, a drop of 169 from two weeks ago. Four weeks ago, 925 people in Chester County tested positive.

The same trend is holding in neighboring Delaware County, where 1,287 people tested positive four months ago, and 531 tested positive last week.

Chester County is nearing the “low risk” phase of 5 percent transmission as determined by the Chester County Health Department. Last week, the county had a 5.72 percent PCR positivity rate. The statewide positivity rate last week in Pennsyslvania was 6.6 percent.

By and large, the people getting sick are those who are not fully vaccinated.

Deaths from the virus continue to decline. Since the pandemic began, 781 people have died.

London Grove Township, West Grove, South Coatesville and Oxford are the county’s COVID hot spots, with nearly 10 percent of people in those municipalities testing positive.

In Chester County’s long-term care facilities, 457 people have died from the virus to date, with the majority of those deaths coming late last year. Currently, 2,670 people at those long-term care facilities tested positive last week.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said there are 1,023 additional positive cases of COVID-19, the lowest number in months, bringing the statewide total to just over 1.1 million.

Pennsylvania has administered first doses of vaccine to 52.6 percent of its entire population, and the state ranks 10th among all 50 states for first doses administered by percentage of population.

According to the CDC, as of Monday morning, May 10, 45.3 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated. Pennsylvania ranks 5th among all 50 states for total doses administered.

County health officials said anyone who is eligible but has

not yet received the vaccine should take advantage of the new clinics, which are free to the public.

The Chester County Health Department’s walkin vaccine clinic at the Exton Square Mall (former Sears store) will offer Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, and the Longwood Gardens overflow parking area drive-thru clinic will offer Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. These clinics are open Tuesday through Sunday.

Three senior centers in the county now serve as walk-in clinics, administering the Moderna vaccine. These senior centers are Phoenixville Senior Center, Oxford Area Senior Center, and Brandywine Valley Active Aging in Coatesville.

The Chester County Health Department will vaccinate any eligible person that visits one of the Health Department walkin vaccination sites. If individuals prefer to make an appointment, they can do so at https://chesterpaprod.service-now.com/vam.

Opening days and times for all Chester County Health Department WalkIn Clinics are:

Exton Square Mall (former Sears store), 222 Exton Square Mall, Exton, PA 19341; Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson -Tuesday-Friday noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Longwood Gardens overflow parking area (drivethru), 1010 E. Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317; Moderna and Johnson & Johnson - Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 5 p.m.

Phoenixville Senior Center, 153 Church Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460; Moderna - Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Brandywine Valley Active Aging – Coatesville Campus, 250 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Coatesville, PA 19320; Moderna Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oxford Area Senior Center, 12 E. Locust Street, Oxford, PA, 19363; Moderna Mondays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Chester County is also offering free vaccine house calls. To schedule, call 610344-6225.

Health Department officials said Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to 12- to 15-year-olds; one more important step is needed before vaccinations can start.

“We are thrilled that the FDA’s research has determined the Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective for individuals as young as 12,” Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. “This means that approximately 750,000 more Pennsylvanians will be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19.”

Before vaccinations in this age group can begin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) needs to review the data and make an official recommendation to use the vaccine for this age group. ACIP is scheduled to discuss the recommendation on Wednesday, May 12.

“Once all of the approvals are in place Pennsylvania vaccine providers will be ready to begin vaccinating these young people to add them to the more than 5.7 million Pennsylvanians who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far,” Beam said.