Spring surge continues with 268 new cases
NORRISTOWN >> The number of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continued to climb this week in Montgomery County during a spring surge of the virus with health officials recording more than 200 new positive individuals in the latest daily report.
The 268 daily new positive COVID-19 cases reported in the county on Thursday brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 52,877 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county, according to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard.
Health officials also reported two new COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,268 since the pandemic began a year ago.
There were 216 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the county’s nine hospitals on Thursday, up from 181 a week ago, according to the latest data. Sixteen of the current patients require ventilators, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Thursday that 114,392 county residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, receiving either the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine or both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, during the ongoing Phase 1A and Phase 1B of the state’s vaccine distribution program. Another 181,328 residents have received a first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, 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 and Phase 1B can pre-register to receive the vaccine through the county Office of Public Health. The pre-registration link can be found at www. montcopa.org/COVID-19 under the green vaccination information button.
Residents who don’t have internet access can call the county’s COVID-19 hotline at (833) 8753967 to connect with a volunteer who can assist them in pre-registering for a vaccine.
The county Office of Public Health previously opened vaccination clinics at Norristown High School, at the Montgomery County Community College campus in Whitpain and at the Parkside Shopping Center, in the former Petco location, in Willow Grove.
On Friday, the county will open additional vaccination clinics at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main St., in Lansdale, and at Bethel Community Church, 575 N. Keim St., in Pottstown. Hours will vary at the two new sites and will include
weekend and evening hours on some days, officials said.
Additionally, testing is still available for all county residents and those who work in the county and want or need to be tested. The county established outdoor walk-up testing sites in Pottstown, Norristown, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Ardmore and Green Lane.
For the 14-day period ending April 1, there were 40,804 county residents tested for COVID-19, which was an increase of 1,689 people tested compared with the 14-day period ending March 25, according to county data.
“This is great. This is exactly what we want. We want everyone who needs or wants to be tested for
COVID-19 to be tested. We continue to have plenty of testing available,” county Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh said during a news briefing this week.
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.
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 on the parking lot of the Delaware Valley Community Health Norristown Regional Health Center at 1401 DeKalb St.
In Lansdale, a testing site is 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.