Montco reports 1,278 new cases, no deaths

NORRISTOWN » Montgomery County officials reported that more than 1,200 county residents tested positive for the coronavirus during the latest four-day period ending Tuesday.

The 1,278 new positive individuals were reported between Jan. 16 and Jan. 19, according to the county’s latest statistics, and bring the county’s total number of positive cases to 39,880 since March 7, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county.

Thirty-nine of the new positive individuals are residents of long-term care facilities.

Officials said no new COVID-19 deaths were reported during the four-day period, leaving the county’s death toll at 1,099 since the pandemic began last March.

Meanwhile, the number of vaccines being administered to county residents continues to increase.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Tuesday that 3,772 county residents had received the full two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines through Jan. 18, during the ongoing Phase 1A of the vaccine distribution program. Another 24,952 residents had received the first dose of the vaccine, according to state data.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to achieve optimum protection.

Pennsylvania hospitals began receiving shipments of the Pfizer vaccine the week of Dec. 14 and the Moderna vaccine the week of Dec. 21.

Overall, state officials reported that through Jan. 18 there were 477,929 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines administered statewide, including the vaccines administered through CVS as part of the Federal Pharmacy Partnership. Specifically, 340,947 people received the initial first dose of the two-dose regimen, and 68,491 people had received the full two doses, according to state statistics.

On Tuesday, county officials reported that 347 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county’s nine hospitals and 45 of the patients required ventilators.

County officials reminded residents that 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 610970-2937 beginning 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.

In Norristown, a testing site is 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 at 114 W. Lancaster Avenue. In Willow Grove, a testing site is at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave.