3 deaths, 586 cases reported for weekend
Montco in ‘high’ transmission for the past seven days
NORRISTOWN >> Nearly 600 more COVID-19 cases and three deaths were recorded over the weekend across Montgomery County as the month of August comes to a close.
According to Montgomery County’s COVID-19 online data hub, which was updated Monday afternoon, 586 cases were reported from Aug. 27 to Aug. 30. Of that, nine cases came from longterm care facilities and two were reportedly inmates at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Eagleville.
Additionally, 118 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 at various medical centers in Montgomery County, with 13 patients on ventilators, according to the county’s online data hub.
As cases continue to climb fueled by the delta variant, Montgomery County has experienced a 14-day average positivity rate of 4.74 percent as of Aug. 22, according to the county’s online data hub.
In the last seven days from Aug. 20-26, Montgomery County had a reported incidence rate of 103.1 cases per 100,000 residents, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard. More than 100 cases per 100,000 people is classified as “high” transmission, according to the Centers for Disease Control guidelines. “Substantial” transmission is 50 to 100 cases per 100,000.
There have been 62,867 cases and 1,342 deaths documented across Montgomery County since the first cases of COVID-19 were detected locally on March 7, 2020.
Figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Health show Montgomery County has 432,226 inoculated and 60,382 others who are partially vaccinated.
There are a number of county-run vaccination clinics in Montgomery County. The two
dose Pfizer and the oneshot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are available by appointment or walk-up from 2-6:30 p.m. at the following locations:
• Bethel Community Church of Pottstown, located at 575 N. Keim St. in Pottstown, is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• The Human Services Center, located in the innovation room on the first floor, at 1430 Dekalb St. in Norristown, is open Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Willow Grove Parkside Shopping Center, located at 2522 W. Moreland Road in Willow Grove, is open on Mondays and Wednesdays.
These clinics will be closed Friday. For more information call 833-875-3967 or visit montcopa.org/covid19vaccine.
Certain immunocompromised individuals are now eligible to receive a booster shot. For more information, visit montcopa.org/covid19vaccine and click on the “3rd dose (immunocompromised)” button.
Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Val Arkoosh stressed the importance of continued testing.
“Vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals should get tested five to six days after they’ve been in contact with someone who has the virus even if they don’t have symptoms,” Arkoosh said in her opening remarks during an Aug. 19 Board of Commissioners meeting, adding that “vaccinated individuals who have been exposed to COVID do not need to quarantine unless they have symptoms.”
Free COVID-19 tests are available at the following locations for those living, working or going to school in Montgomery County:
• Ardmore: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as 2-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 114 W. Lancaster Ave.
• Norristown: 2-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1401 Dekalb St.
• Pottstown: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as 2-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 364 King St.
• Willow Grove: 2-5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2522 W. Moreland Road.
Appointments are available each day beginning at 7 a.m. online at montcopa. org/covid-19 or at 8:30 a.m. by calling 610-970-2937.