COVID-19 infection rate declines, first since July

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 11,208 additional coronavirus cases since Friday: 4,485 Saturday, 3,821 Sunday and 2,902 Monday. The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases was 4,442 cases per day, down 5% from a week ago, and down 4% over the last 30 days.

It is the first time that the rate is lower compared with 30 days prior since mid-July.

To date, there have been 1.51 million infections statewide.

While all 67 counties in Pennsylvania remain above the weekly population-adjusted threshold to qualify as “high community transmission” areas, 28 counties — including Lehigh and Monroe — have declined at least 10% compared with the previous week, while 10 counties have increased 10% or more. The remaining 29 counties — including the remaining counties in The Morning Call’s coverage area — have moved up or down slightly from the previous week.

The state reported 105 deaths since Friday. The seven-day moving average of deaths per day is 88, compared with 53.7 a week ago, an increase of 64% in the last seven days. The rate is up 122% in the last 30 days.

The latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows there are 7.61 million fully vaccinated people in Pennsylvania, accounting for 59.5% of the population. An additional 2.03 million people are in need of their follow-up shot. In total, 16.94 million shots have been put into the arms of 9.64 million people, or 75.3% of the state’s residents.

Included in those statewide numbers are 421,302 Lehigh Valley residents who are fully vaccinated, accounting for 62.5% of the local population. In total, 534,446 locals have received 805,030 shots in the arm, accounting for 79.2% of the Valley’s population.

An average of 41,696 vaccinations are being administered to Pennsylvania residents each day, according to CDC data. Of those, 20,814 are first doses. The number of total vaccinations per day is up 59.2% over the last 30 days. The number of first doses being given per day is up 57.5% over the last 30 days.

There were 2,919 people hospitalized as of midday Monday, compared with 2,961 Sunday. Of those, 665 were in intensive care, and 381 were on ventilators. Statewide hospitalizations are

steady over the last week, and are up 29.5% in the last 30 days.

Hospitals in the Lehigh Valley reported 151 COVID-19 patients Monday compared with 150 Sunday, including 31 in intensive care, and 19 on ventilators.

Hospitals in the five-county region including Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Schuylkill and Monroe report 225 patients, with 43 in intensive care, and 22 on ventilators. Regional hospitalizations are also steady over the last week, and are up 10.9% in the last 30 days.

The Lehigh Valley reported 76 additional cases, 31 in Lehigh County and 45 in Northampton County. That brings the total to 91,358.

Three new deaths (two in Lehigh County, one in Northampton County) reported Monday bring the total to 1,703 (924 in Lehigh, 779 in Northampton).

— Eugene Tauber