Virus spread spiking in Chester County
WEST CHESTER >> The number of people testing positive for coronavirus in the past three weeks has more than quadrupled, according to health officials.
Last week, 139 people tested positive for COVID-19, while just 37 tested positive three weeks ago, according to the Chester County Health Department.
The trend in neighboring Delaware County is similar. Three weeks ago, just 51 tested positive, while 227 tested positive last week.
Until Thursday, Aug. 5, Chester County had been among the lower areas of transmission in the state.
The percent of PRC positivity in Chester County — under 1 percent four weeks ago, has climbed to 2.84 percent. In Delaware County, it’s 3.23 percent.
And hospitalizations from the virus is up, and officials say just about all those hospitalized for COVID-19 have
not been vaccinated.
On Thursday, the Chester County’s infection rate was reclassified as substantial by the Centers for Disease Control. This reclassification from moderate means that all residents should wear masks indoors in public settings. Chester County is one of 34 counties in the state that has a substantial spread of the virus.
The outbreak comes as more than 75 percent of Chester County’s eligible population is vaccinated. Officials blame the spread on the new Delta variant of the virus — easily transmissible — being spread by largely unvaccinated people. While vaccinated people are still extremely unlikely to get sick, Delta is more likely to be transmitted by them because this variant has a much higher viral load.
Despite its new “substantial” status, Chester County still has a lower rate of transmission than Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery or Philadelphia counties.
Many business owners in Chester County are now reevaluating whether to recommend or require masks after several major corporations are mandating mask-wearing for employees and recommending it for customers.
Last week, President Joe Biden ordered all federal government workers to receive vaccine shots or wear masks and undergo repeated tests for the virus.
Chester County school districts will reconvene classes later this month, and just how each will mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is uncertain as virus numbers continue to spike.
Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Alison Beam said last week the state advised districts to follow guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding masking, social distancing and other measures to slow the spread of the virus.