Montco records 275 cases in 7 days
NORRISTOWN » Montgomery County officials reported 275 people tested positive for the coronavirus and three more people died from the virus during the latest seven-day period ending Tuesday.
The 275 new positive cases, reported between Aug. 5 and 11, bring the county’s total number of cases to 10,018 since March 7 when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. Twelve of the people resided in long-term care facilities, officials said.
The new positive individuals included 135 females and 128 males, who ranged in age from 1 to 91 and resided in 47 municipalities. The gender of 12 of the individuals was not available.
“Montgomery County’s 14day positivity rate has been under 5% since June 18 and continues to trend slowly
downward. This is great news but not a reason to let up on masking, social distancing, hand hygiene, testing and contact tracing,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh said Tuesday. “Our low positivity rate is a result of so many Montco residents heeding the call to do the right thing to protect our entire community. Keep your good work and your mask up.”
Officials also reported three more COVID-19 deaths over the seven-day period, which brought the county’s death toll to 823 since the pandemic began. None of the three lived in a long-term care facility, according to officials.
Testing is still available for all county residents and those who work in the county and want or need to be tested. The county has established outdoor walkup testing sites in Pottstown, Norristown, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Ardmore and Green Lane to accommodate those who want to be tested.
The 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.
To register for a test at any of the six sites, visit www. montcopa.org/COVID-19 and click on the county testing information button. Residents can also register by calling 610-970-2937.
That phone number as well as the online registration will open at 8:30 a.m. daily.
In Pottstown, the testing site is at the county’s Office of Public Health Pottstown Health Center at 364 King St. Testing is available by appointment Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
In Norristown, a testing site is in the parking lot of the Delaware Valley Community Health Norristown Regional Health Center at 1401 DeKalb St. Testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m.
In Lansdale, a testing site is at 421 Main St. and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
Another testing site is at Deep Creek and Snyder roads in the Green Lane Park area, where tests are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
In Ardmore, a testing site is at 114 W. Lancaster Ave. where testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
Another testing site is available at the county’s Willow Grove Office of Public Health at 102 Old York Road. Testing is available there on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
The Willow Grove location will close Aug. 14.
But a new testing location will open Aug. 17 at First Baptist Church Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave., Willow Grove. Testing there will be available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
“Montgomery County’s 14-day positivity rate has been under 5% since June 18 and continues to trend slowly downward. This is great news but not a reason to let up on masking, social distancing, hand hygiene, testing and contact tracing.” — Montgomery County Commissioner Dr. Valerie Arkoosh