Montco reports 319 new cases over three days
NORRISTOWN >> Montgomery County averaged about 105 coronavirus cases per day during the most recent three-day reporting period, according to the latest county data.
The 319 daily new positive COVID-19 cases, reported in the county during the three-day period ending Monday, brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 48,524 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county, according to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard. Two of the daily new cases were individuals who resided in long-term care facilities.
Officials also reported one additional COVID-19 death during the three-day period, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,242 since the pandemic began a year ago.
There were 102 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the county’s nine hospitals on Monday, with five requiring respirators, according to the latest hospitalization data.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Monday that 67,961 county residents had received full doses of vaccine, during the ongoing Phase 1A of the state’s vaccine distribution program. Another 110,075 residents had received a first dose of the vaccine, according to state data.
Appointments are required to receive the vaccine. All those eligible for the vaccine in Phase 1A can pre-register to receive the vaccine through the county health department. The pre-registration link can be found at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19 under the green vaccination information button.
Residents who don’t have internet access can call the county’s COVID-19 hotline at (833) 875-3967 to connect with a volunteer who can assist them in pre-registering for a vaccine.
Currently, the county Office of Public Health operates two vaccination sites.
The county previously opened a vaccination clinic at Norristown High School to serve those who have appointments to receive their second doses of the vaccine.
Those receiving their first dose of the vaccine are currently being served at a clinic hosted by the Montgomery County Community College campus in Whitpain.
Officials plan to open a third vaccination site in Willow Grove when vaccine supplies increase.
Additionally, health officials, in coordination with the county Department of Public Safety, established a mobile vaccination program to begin taking vaccine to the county’s most vulnerable elderly residents who would otherwise not be able to visit a mass vaccination site. The program, under the direction of Dr. Alvin Wang, is currently serving elderly individuals who live in congregate senior housing.
“We’re doing approximately 400 to 450 individuals with that outreach. We have started with a list of about 35 or 36 senior living communities where the seniors that live there are income-qualified to live there. So, these are often individuals who don’t have great internet access or good transportation or have other challenges,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh explained at a recent news briefing.
“Our goal is to get through those locations first. Once we’re through these original locations, we’ll start to work in other community-based locations. We’ve had a number of requests and we have a long list of churches and community groups and other places and so we very much look forward to be able to get to some of those places as soon as we get more vaccine,” Arkoosh added.
Officials said they are aware there are many other homebound individuals residing in the county.
“As we get more vaccine, we are eager to try to reach as many of those people as we can or work with their typical providers to make sure that we can get vaccine to them. We know that people are out there and it is absolutely high on our priority list as we get more supply to work to get to all those individuals who are homebound,” Arkoosh said. “As we get more vaccine, we are prepared to put more teams out there so that we can start to work on some of these one-at-a-time situations.”
Officials said 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.
Since the pandemic began last year, 792,242 tests were administered to county residents through March 9, officials said.
“Those are tests for the virus,” Arkoosh said. “We do continue to have good availability to testing so as always, I want to urge anyone who wants or needs to be tested, to please get tested.”
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.
The six sites are open Monday through Friday, weather permitting and at varying hours. Same-day appointments can be made weekdays starting at 7 a.m. by visiting www.montcopa.org/COVID-19 and clicking on the county testing information button. Residents can also register for a test at any of the six sites by calling 610-970-2937 beginning 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.
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.
In Lansdale, a testing site is located at 421 Main St. Another testing site is located at Deep Creek and Snyder roads in the Green Lane Park area.
In Ardmore, a testing site is located at 114 W. Lancaster Ave. In Willow Grove, a testing site is at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave.