Montco passes 50K coronavirus case mark

NORRISTOWN >> As the 55th week of the coronavirus pandemic in Montgomery County came to a close, the county reached a milestone, passing the 50,000 mark in the number of positive cases recorded since the virus surfaced in the county a year ago.

The 172 daily new positive COVID-19 cases reported in the county on Friday brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 50,106 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county, according to the county’s latest daily data. One of the daily new cases was an individual residing in a long-term care facility.

Officials reported no new COVID-19 deaths on Friday, leaving the county’s death toll at 1,257 since the pandemic began a year ago.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Friday that 88,305 county residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, receiving either the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine or both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, during the ongoing Phase 1A of the state’s vaccine distribution program. Another 140,871 residents have received a first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, according to state data.

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

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 Office of Public Health. 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) 8753967 to connect with a volunteer who can assist them in pre-registering for a vaccine.

The county Office of Public Health previously opened vac

The 172 daily new positive COVID-19 cases reported in the county on Friday brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 50,106 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county, according to the county’s latest daily data.