Montco reports 194 new COVID-19 cases in daily report
NORRISTOWN >> As the 59th week of the coronavirus pandemic in Montgomery County came to a close on Friday, health officials reported 194 additional county residents tested positive for the virus with the number of daily new cases appearing to reach a plateau by week’s end.
The 194 daily new positive COVID-19 cases reported in the county on Friday brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 56,060 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. One of the daily new cases was an individual who resided in a long-term care facility.
As of Friday, the 14-day average of daily positive COVID-19 cases stood at 208.9 cases. But during the last several days the number of daily new cases appeared to be plateauing and have been under 200. The daily figures included:
• April 17 – 225 cases
• April 18 – 202 cases
• April 19 – 186 cases
• April 20 – 190 cases
• April 21 – 192 cases
• April 22 – 192 cases
• April 23 – 194 cases
Officials reported one new COVID-19 death on Friday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,281 since the pandemic began a year ago.
On Friday, there were 233 COVID-19 patients in the county’s nine hospitals, up from 224 a week ago, and 17 of the current patients required ventilators, according to health officials.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Friday that 164,738 county residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Another 217,184 county residents have received a first dose of the vaccines, according to state data.
Everyone age 16 and over is eligible for the vaccine.
Appointments are required to receive the vaccine. All those eligible for the vaccine can pre-register to receive the vaccine through the county Office of Public Health. The preregistration 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) 875-3967 to connect with a volunteer who can assist them in pre-registering for a vaccine.
Currently, the county Office of Public Health is operating vaccination clinics at the following locations: Norristown Area High School; the Montgomery County Community College campus in Whitpain; the Parkside Shopping Center, in the former Petco location, in Willow Grove; Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main St., in Lansdale; and Bethel Community Church, 575 N. Keim St., in Pottstown.
A sixth vaccination clinic will be held all Saturdays in May at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 712 Penllyn Pike in Spring House.
Hours have varied depending on the supply of vaccine and no walk-up registration is accepted.
Additionally, testing is still available for all county residents and those who work in the county. The county 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 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 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 Ave. In Willow Grove, a testing site is at First Baptist Church - Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave.