Montco reports 130 new cases of COVID-19
As the 61st week of the coronavirus pandemic in Montgomery County came to a close on Friday, health officials reported that more than 100 additional county residents tested positive for the virus.
The 130 daily new positive COVID-19 cases reported in the county on Friday brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 57,939 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. Six of the daily new cases were individuals who resided in long-term care facilities.
As of Friday, the 14-day average of daily positive COVID-19
cases stood at 134.5 which was a decrease from the 14day average of 181.1 cases reported on April 30. The daily figures this week included:
• May 1 – 137 cases
• May 2 – 104 cases
• May 3 – 79 cases
• May 4 – 122 cases
• May 5 – 71 cases
• May 6 – 84 cases
• May 7 – 130 cases
Officials reported no new COVID-19 deaths on Friday, leaving the county’s death toll at 1,306 since the pandemic began a year ago.
On Friday, there were 178 COVID-19 patients in the county’s nine hospitals, down from 200 a week ago, and 19 of the current patients required ventilators, according to health officials.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Friday that 212,993 county residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Another 229,720 county residents have received a first dose of the vaccines, according
to state data.
Everyone age 16 and over is eligible for the vaccine.
All of the county-run clinics now offer both the Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines. Hours vary and include day, evening and weekend hours. Anyone who schedules a vaccine appointment with the county Office of Public Health will have the ability to choose their clinic location, the date and time of their appointment and which vaccine they want to receive.
The county-run vaccination clinics are now offering walk-up availability for a vaccine in order to reduce barriers and make it easier for people to get the vaccine when it is most convenient.
While no appointments are necessary for first doses, people are encouraged to bring their identification and insurance card to register at the clinic site. If residents prefer, they can still make appointments at http://vaccine.montcopa. org/ to speed up the registration process.
Walk-ups are only available for first doses of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine or the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine. Second
doses will be scheduled by email or phone, officials said.
The county Office of Public Health is operating vaccination clinics, at various hours, at the following locations: the former JCPenney store at the King of Prussia Mall in Upper Merion; the former Sears location at the Montgomery Mall in Montgomery Township; the Parkside Shopping Center, in the former Petco location, in Willow Grove; Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main St., in Lansdale; Bethel Community Church, 575 N. Keim St., in Pottstown; and St. John’s Episcopal Church, 528 Church St. in Norristown.
Another vaccination clinic is available on Saturdays at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 712 Penllyn Pike in Spring House.
More specific weekly vaccine clinic schedules, including dates and hours, are posted at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19Vaccine or the public can call the county’s COVID-19 hotline at (833) 875-3967 for a list of locations and hours.
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.