Montco reports 192 new COVID-19 cases
NORRISTOWN >> Nearly 200 additional Montgomery County residents tested positive for the coronavirus and one person died from the virus, according to the latest daily report issued by county health officials.
The 192 daily new positive COVID-19 cases reported in the county on Thursday brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 55,866 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county, according to the county’s COVID-19 online dashboard. Two of the daily new cases were individuals who resided in long-term care facilities.
Officials also reported one additional COVID-19 death on Thursday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,280 since the pandemic began a year ago.
There were 236 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the county’s nine hospitals on Thursday, up from 207 a week ago. Fifteen of the current patients required ventilators.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Thursday that 161,665 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. Another 213,513 county 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.
Last week, county health officials had to pause the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, under federal and state directives, as they await the outcome of a review by the federal Centers for Disease Control of six reported incidents of rare blood clots that occurred in individuals in the U.S. within two weeks of receiving the J&J vaccine.
The county is currently distributing only the Pfizer vaccine.
Everyone age 16 and over is eligible for the vaccine.
Appointments are required to receive the vaccine. All those eligible for the vaccine can pre-register to receive the vaccine through the county Office of Public Health. The preregistration 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 is operating vaccination clinics at the following locations: Norristown Area High School; the Montgomery County Community College campus in Whitpain; the Parkside Shopping Center, in the former Petco location, in Willow Grove; Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main St., in Lansdale; and Bethel Community Church, 575 N. Keim St., in Pottstown.
A sixth vaccination clinic will held all Saturdays in May at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 712 Penllyn
Pike in Spring House.
Hours have varied depending on the supply of vaccine and no walk-up registration is accepted.
Additionally, testing is still available for all county residents and those who work in the county. The county established outdoor walk-up testing sites in Pottstown, Norristown, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Ardmore and Green Lane to accommodate those who want to be tested.
“We continue to have good availability of testing and I want to urge anyone who wants or needs to be tested to get tested. It’s very easy to get tested at one of our sites,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh said during a news briefing this week.
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.
“We continue to have good availability of testing and I want to urge anyone who wants or needs to be tested to get tested. It’s very easy to get tested at one of our sites.”
_ County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh