Montco records a dozen COVID-19 deaths over two days

While the number of people being vaccinated against COVID-19 continues to increase in Montgomery County, officials reported 685 new cases of the virus and a dozen new deaths over the two-day period ending Friday.

There were 368 new coronavirus cases reported on Thursday and 317 new cases on Friday, bringing the county’s total number of positive cases to 38,603 since March 7, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. Twenty-one of the 685 new cases were individuals who resided in longterm care facilities, according to the county’s latest data.

Officials also reported 12 more deaths from the virus – two on Thursday and 10 on Friday - bringing the county’s death toll to 1,099 since the pandemic began in March.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Friday that 2,959 county residents had received the full two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines during the ongoing Phase 1A of the vaccine distribution program. Another 23,262 residents had received the first dose of the vaccine, according to state data.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to achieve optimum protection.

Overall, on Friday, state health officials reported that 58,116 full doses had been administered to people statewide while 349,101 initial doses had been administered.

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.

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. Sameday 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 610-9702937 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. On Saturday, Jan. 16, the Lansdale testing site will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For Saturday testing, appointments can be reserved online only starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15.

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 Avenue. In Willow Grove, a testing site is at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave.

All six COVID-19 testing sites will be closed on Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.