Montco reports 2 more COVID-19 deaths
>> Montgomery County officials reported more than 100 daily new positive cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths from the virus on Friday as the 49th week of the pandemic concluded.
The 114 new positive COVID-19 individuals brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 44,869 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. Officials said eight of the daily new cases were individuals who resided in long-term care facilities.
Officials also reported two more COVID-19 deaths on Friday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,178 since the virus surfaced in the county last March.
On Friday, there were 202 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county’s nine hospitals and 32 of the patients required ventilators, according to the county’s latest data.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Friday that 19,333 county residents had received the full two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines through Feb. 11, during the ongoing Phase 1A of the state’s vaccine distribution program. Another 65,716 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.
Appointments are required to receive the vaccine. All those eligible for the vaccine in Phase 1A can pre-register to receive the vaccine through the county health department. The pre-registration link can be found at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19 under the green vaccination information button.
Last week, the Montgomery County Office of Public
Health opened a vaccination clinic at Norristown High School to serve those who have appointments to receive their first dose of the vaccine.
Those receiving their second dose of the vaccine are being served at a clinic hosted by the Montgomery County Community College campus in Whitpain.
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 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 and at varying hours. Same-day 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.
The testing sites will be closed on Monday, Feb. 15, the President’s Day holiday.
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 in 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 Ave.
In Willow Grove, a testing site is at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave.