Montco reports 161 new cases of COVID-19 over three days
The number of daily new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continued to decline in Montgomery County, according to health data for the latest three-day period.
The 161 daily new positive COVID-19 cases, reported in the county during the three-day period Saturday through Monday, brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 58,096 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county, according to the county’s COVID-19 online dashboard. One of the daily
new cases was an individual who resided in a longterm care facility.
Officials also reported five additional COVID-19 deaths during the most recent three-day period ending Monday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,311 since the pandemic began a year ago.
The latest three-day total of new cases represented a sharp decrease from the 320 new cases reported during the three-day period Saturday through Monday a week ago.
The number of virus-related hospitalizations also is decreasing. There were 162 COVID-19 patients in the county’s nine hospitals on Monday, down from 208 a week ago. Officials said 26 of the current patients required ventilators.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Monday that 225,491 county residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Another 225,057 county residents have received a first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna 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.