1 death reported: 7-day span has 300 new cases; rate stays low
NORRISTOWN » Montgomery County officials reported nearly 300 individuals tested positive for COVID-19 and one more person died from the virus during the latest seven-day period ending Tuesday.
The 298 new positive cases, reported between Aug. 12 and Aug. 18, brought the county’s total number of cases to 10,311 since March 7 when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. Seven of the individuals resided in long-term care facilities, officials said.
The new positive individuals included 154 females and 140 males, who ranged in age from 2
to 91 and resided in 46 municipalities. The gender of four of the individuals was not available.
“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,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie A. Arkoosh said on 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 one more COVID-19 death over the seven-day period, which brought the county’s death toll to 824 since the pandemic began in March. The individual who died did not reside in a longterm 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 for testing.
To register for a test at any of the six sites, residents can visit www.montcopa.org/COVID-19 and click on the county testing information button. Residents can also register for a test at any of the six sites 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 located 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 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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. Testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
In Lansdale, a testing site is located at 421 Main St. and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
Another testing site is located 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 located at 114 W. Lancaster Avenue where testing is 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 Willow Grove, a testing site is at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave. Testing there is be available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.