Montco records 24 new COVID-19 deaths
NORRISTOWN » As the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccination program continues in Montgomery County, officials reported more than 800 people tested positive for the virus during the latest twoday period ending Thursday.
County officials reported 834 new positive cases of the virus between Jan. 6 and Jan. 7, bringing the county’s total number of cases to 35,762 since March 7, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. Seventeen of the daily new cases were individuals who resided in long-term care facilities, officials said.
The new positive individuals included 392 males and 442 females who ranged in age from 3-months to 102 and resided in 59 municipalities.
Officials also reported 24 more deaths from the virus over the two-day period ending Thursday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,052 since the
pandemic began in March. The 24 individuals ranged in age from 55 to 100.
Since March, a total of 547 females and 505 males, who ranged in age from 34 to 104, have died from the virus in the county.
The Montgomery County Office of Public Health began vaccinating eli g ible healthcare workers on
Wednesday at a public vaccination clinic hosted by Montgomery County Community College. During the first day, 861 individuals received vaccine, according to county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh.
“Right now we have a very small supply of vaccine,” Arkoosh said. “As more vaccine doses become available more appointment slots and vaccination clinics will be opened.”
Due to the limited supply of vaccine at this time, only individuals in the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s defined 1A category who live or work in Montgomery County will be provided appointments for vaccines at the clinic at this time.
“Our best estimate is that the 1A group in Montgomery County is approximately 20,000 individuals,” Arkoosh said. “We hope to begin to start with the 1B group by the end of the month but this will depend on how much vaccine we receive. We ask that everyone have patience as we start this initial rollout. Right now the demand for vaccinations is greater than our supply. We do not have certainty of how much vaccine we are going to receive from week to week.”
Critical workers such as teachers, first responders such as police and fire personnel and those suffering from high-risk conditions or severe disease would be eligible for vaccines during phase 1B, according to state and county plans.
Officials said vaccinations also were administered at 20 county long-term care facilities this week for residents and staff through a separate contract between the federal government and CVS and Walgreens pharmacies. County officials do not have input into how that vaccine is distributed.
On Thursday, Pennsylvania Department of Health of f icia ls reported that through Jan. 6 there were 177,767 first doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines administered statewide. The state reported on Thursday that 9,261 first doses of the two available vaccines had been administered thus far in Montgomery County. State officials also said 59 individuals in the county had received full doses as of Thursday.
While vaccine is becoming available in the county, Arkoosh warned residents not to become complacent in the fight against the virus.
“We remain in a very serious and evolving situation. Together we have the power to keep this virus in check while we await the arrival of enough vaccine in our community to vaccinate everyone who would like to be vaccinated,” Arkoosh said.
To f latten the current surge of COVID-19 cases in the county, Arkoosh has urged residents to wear a mask, to avoid social gatherings, to abide by handwashing recommendations, to fully cooperate if they receive a call from a contact tracer, and to download the free COVID Alert PA app onto their phone.
COVID Alert PA is a free mobile app, offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, that uses Bluetooth low energy technology and the Exposure Notification System, created jointly by Google and Apple, to notify and give public health guidance to anyone who may have been in close contact with a person who also has the app and has tested positive for COVID-19.
On Thursday, 429 individuals with COVID-19 were in the county’s nine hospitals and 47 of the current patients require ventilators. Those figures represented a reduction from the 438 people hospitalized last week and from the 537 people hospitalized with COVID-19 three weeks ago.
The county’s COVID-19 positivity rate decreased slightly last week, according to county data.
The overall 14-day COVID-19 positivity rate for the county, as of Jan.1, was 10.4% which was a decrease from the 10.53% positivity rate for the 14-day period ending Dec. 25.
Health officials believe having a positivity rate less than 5% indicates a county is controlling the spread of the virus and keeping it suppressed.
Officials reported that the daily positivity rate in the county was above 5% every day between Dec. 19 and Jan. 1.
“And I do anticipate that given the number of positive cases that we’ve seen this week that our positivity rate is likely to tick back up next week,” said Arkoosh, who was joined at the news briefing by fellow Commissioner Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. “As we’re seeing our positive case numbers increase over the last several days I do anticipate that our hospitalization numbers will also increase over the next week to 10 days.”
Testing is available for all county residents and those who work in the county and want or need to be tested. The county has established outdoor walk-up testing sites in Pottstown, Norristown, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Ardmore and Green Lane to accommodate those who want to be tested.
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. Sameday 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 Avenue.
In Willow Grove, a testing site is at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave. This Saturday, Jan. 9, the Willow Grove testing site will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For Saturday testing, appointments can be reserved online only starting at 7 p.m. on Friday.