Montco records another decrease in positivity rate
NORRISTOWN » Montgomery County has recorded another decrease in its coronavirus positivity rate, the lowest rate since the pandemic began, as residents continued to reduce the spread of the virus in the county.
The overall 14-day COVID-19 positivity rate for the county, as of Oct. 2, was 2.24%, according to data gathered by county health officials. That marked a decrease from the 2.36% positivity rate recorded for the period ending Sept. 25.
“That remains great news. Our positivity is low, the lowest it’s been during this pandemic. We continue to suppress the viral spread … and we continue
to see stabilization in our numbers, which is great news,” county Commissioners’ ChairwomanDr. Valerie Arkoosh saidonWednesday during a news briefing.
Health officials believe having a positivity rate less than 5% indicates the county is controlling the spread of the virus and keeping it suppressed. The county has been below the 5% benchmark since June 18.
To keep the positivity rate below 5%, Arkoosh stressed residents should continue to abide by all mask wearing, handwashing and social distancing recommendations.
“But we still have plenty of virus circulating in our communities, so please, please be careful,” Arkoosh reminded residents, explaining the low positivity rate doesn’t mean residents should become more relaxed with their behaviors. “That doesn’t mean that we get to relax and take off our masks and have bigger social gatherings.
“Our numbers are low because people in the community have been following this guidance and doing their best to keep themselves and their families and their neighbors safe,” added Arkoosh, who was joined at the news conference by fellow Commissioner Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. and county Solicitor Josh Stein.
Officials continue to see attendance at social events play an important role in the spread of the virus.
“Our number one challenge remains social gatherings. We’re seeing social gatherings of a variety of different sizes as being places where people are getting exposed to COVID-19 and it is being transmitted,” Arkoosh said. “I want to encourage people to be very, very careful if they choose to attend a social gathering. It is an easy place for transmission to occur.”
More people in the county do appear to be taking advantage of testing opportunities for the virus. Officials reported nearly 1,000 more people were tested during the last week than in the previous week. Through the sevenday period ending Oct. 2, there were 25,349 people tested. During the previous period ending Sept. 25, there were 24,373 people tested.
“That means we’re doing a lot of surveillance testing, which is what I love to see because it gives us a real windowofwhat’s going on all across our community and gives us a really excellent chance of suppressing any outbreak that might be starting to bubble up,” Arkoosh explained. “It’s great to see those numbers going up. The more information we have, the safer that we can help keep this whole community.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, officials reported 47 more individuals tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the county’s total number of cases to 12,318 sinceMarch 7, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county.
The new positive individuals included 21 females and 26 males, who ranged in age from 12 to 87, and who resided in 24 municipalities, according to the latest statistics.
“All 62 Montgomery County municipalities are home to individuals with COVID-19,” Arkoosh said.
Officials reported no new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, leaving the county’s death toll at 836.
On Wednesday, officials reported 37 individuals were currently hospitalized with the coronavirus in county hospitals, with 10 requiring a ventilator. The number of those hospitalized increased slightly from last week when officials reported 29 people were hospitalized with the virus.
At the peak of the pandemic in April, the county reported several hundred hospitalizations.
Officials said testing is available for all county residents and those who work in the county and want or need to be tested. The county has established outdoor walk-up testing sites in Pottstown, Norristown, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Ardmore and Green Lane to accommodate those who want to be tested Monday through Friday.
The six county-run sites provide self-administered tests at no cost, although insurance will be billed if you have it. The sites do require an appointment for testing.
To register for a test at any of the six sites, residents can visit www.montcopa.org/COVID-19 and click on the county testing information button. Residents can also register for a test at any of the six sites by calling 610-970-2937.
That phone number as well as the online registration will open at 8:30 a.m. daily.
All testing sites and registration will be closed on Monday, Oct. 12, the federal Columbus Day holiday. Registration and sites will reopen at 8:30 a.m. Tues., Oct. 13.
In Pottstown, the testing site is located at the county’s Office of Public Health Pottstown Health Center at 364 King St. Testing is available by appointment Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In Norristown, a testing site is located on the parking lot of the Delaware Valley CommunityHealth Norristown Regional Health Center at 1401 DeKalb St. Testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
In Lansdale, a testing site is located at 421 Main St. and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
Another testing site is located at Deep Creek and Snyder roads in the Green Lane Park area, where tests are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
In Ardmore, a testing site is located at 114W. Lancaster Avenue where testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
In Willow Grove, testing is available at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave. Testing there is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.