Coronavirus positivity rate falls below 3 percent
EAGLEVILLE » Although the COVID-19 pandemic still holds a strong presence, the area’s positivity rate fell below 3 percent, according toMontgomeryCounty Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Val Arkoosh.
“That’s again really good news, and that is the case even though we have continued to test pretty much the same number of people,” Arkoosh said during a virtual press conference onWednesday.
There was a 2.79 percent positivity rate discovered when testing 22,610 people over a 14-day average, Arkoosh cited figures through Sept. 18. There were 22,617 people tested over the previous 14-day average.
Arkoosh added that “5 percent is considered suppression of the virus.”
Forty-two cases of COVID-19 were reported on Wednesday, according to the Montgomery County COVID-19 resources webpage.
“Thirty-three of the 42 cases
are from the last seven days or less,” Arkoosh said. “So this week we do have some outlier tests that we are getting late reporting on.”
Of the disclosed cases, therewere 31 females and 11 males ranging in age from 18-to-95 years old living in 25 different municipalities, according to Arkoosh. One person resided in a long term care facility.
While nonewere reported as of Wednesday afternoon, the new figures revealed 831 deaths and 11,786 cases since March 7 in Montgomery County, according to the county’s resources website.
Arkoosh took a moment to note the toll the novel coronavirus has taken nationally as more than 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.
“My team and I wanted to extend our deepest condolences to the families, loved ones and friends of these individuals,” she said.
Additionally, Arkoosh said that around 25 people are hospitalized at Montgomery County medical facilities, with five people needing a ventilator. That equates to approximately 20 percent of patients.
Officials continued urging people of all ages living and working in Montgomery County to obtain free COVID-19 testing services Monday through Friday at the following outdoor walkup locations:
• Ardmore: Testing is available from 4-6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 12-2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 114 W. Lancaster Ave.
• Green Lane: Testing is available from 4-6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 12-2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the intersection of Deep Creek and Snyder roads.
• Lansdale: Testing is available from 4-6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 12-2 p.m. on
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 421 W. Main St.
• Norristown: Testing is available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as 3-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Delaware Valley Community Health Center at the Norristown Regional Health Center, located at 1401 DeKalb St.
• Pottstown: Testing is available from 12-2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as 4-6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, located at 364 King St.
• WillowGrove: Testing is available from 12-2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 4-6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the First Baptist Church of Crestmont, located at 1678 Fairview Ave.
Each location has a capacity to conduct 50 tests per day, which comes to 300 tests per week across the county, according to Arkoosh
Those interested must make an appointment, and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. each day. To do so, visit www.montcopa.org/ COVID-19, and click the “county testing information” tab, or call 610-9702937. Spanish-speaking operators can also assist as well as translation resources for other languages.
“The more we’re able to test our community … the more we will know about what’s happening across the county and be able to quickly suppress any outbreaks,” Arkoosh said.
Arkoosh added that “testing continues to go smoothly” with the Mako Medical testing services. The North Carolina-based company has a contractual obligation to turn around test results within 36 hours.
For those getting tested at the county-run testing sites, Arkoosh said that people can get more information about receiving a text or email message from the laboratory “when your test result is ready.”
“I urge you to sign up for that notification,” she said. “This is the fastest way to get your result as soon as it is available.”
Arkoosh, who is also a physician, underscored the importance of having area residents wear a mask, stay six feet apart from others, keep their hands clean and away from their face, and collaborate with contact tracers if they receive a call.
County leaders stressed the importance of contact tracing as a way to mitigate the spreadof thenovel coronavirus.
When someone tests positive or was exposed to someone with COVID-19, they will receive a call from the county’s results center at 610-278-5923, or a number of agency contact tracers including ACLAMO, Family Services of Montgomery County, the Montgomery County OIC, and the Visiting Nurses Association Community Services, according to officials.
Arkoosh has emphasized the importance of working with contact tracers time and time again, and noted the state’s department of health released a mobile app to informusers if they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19. It’s available for Apple and Android users.
The COVID Alert PA“uses Bluetooth LowEnergy (BLE) technology, and the Exposure Notification System developed by Apple and Google to help notify and give public health guidance to anyone who may have been in close contact with another person with the app who later tested positive for COVID-19,” read a post on the Montgomery County, PA Facebook page. To learn more, check out the app’s website at www.pa.gov/covid/covid-alert-pa.
Arkoosh added the app does not collect or use any identifiable or location tracking information.
“But we are all playing a part in this fight against the virus and the more people who downloaded the COVID Alert PA App, the better the results will be,” she said.