Montco records 782 new cases, 2 more deaths
NORRISTOWN » As the fall surge of the coronavirus continued to grip Montgomery County, officials reported that nearly 800 individuals tested positive for the virus and two more people died from the virus during the latest sevenday period ending Tuesday.
The 782 new COVID-19 positive cases, recorded between Oct. 28 and Nov. 3, brought the county’s total number of cases to 14,221 since March 7 when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. Eighteen of the new
cases were individuals who resided in longterm care facilities, officials said.
The new positive individuals included 400 females and 380 males, who ranged in age from 1 to 96 and resided in 57 municipalities. The genders of two of the individuals were unavailable. All 62 county municipalities have reported positive cases of the coronavirus since the pandemic began.
“The COVID-19 fall surge continues in Montgomery County,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh said on Tuesday. “We see an increase in confirmed positive COVID-19 cases across all age groups, but especially in those 60 years of age and younger.
“There are now over 100 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in Montgomery County hospitals. As the weather gets cooler and more activities move indoors, we must all continue to take commonsense steps to minimize the spread of this very contagious virus,” Arkoosh added.
Arkoosh urged residents to wear a mask when near non-household contacts, to avoid social gatherings, to fully cooperate if they receive a call from a contact tracer, and to download the COVID Alert PA app onto their phone.
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.
“Working together, we can suppress the surge of COVID-19 in Montgomery County,” Arkoosh said.
County officials also reported two more COVID-19 deaths over the seven-day period ending Tuesday, which brought the county’s death toll to 840 since the pandemic began in March.
Testing is still 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.
The 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.
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 Community Health Norristown Regional Health Center at 1401 DeKalb St. Testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 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 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 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 114 W. Lancaster Avenue where testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
In Willow Grove, a testing site is at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave. Testing there is be available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.