COVID-19 positivity rate down in Montco, SE Pa.
HARRISBURG >> For the third consecutive week, the coronavirus positivity rate decreased in Montgomery County and in the six neighboring counties in Southeast Pennsylvania, according to the latest week-to-week data compiled by state health officials.
Montgomery County recorded a coronavirus positivity rate of 5.6% for the period April 30 to May 6, which was a decrease from the 6.8% positivity rate recorded for the period April 23 to April 29, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard.
Health officials believe having a positivity rate less than 5% indicates a county is controlling the spread of the virus and keeping it suppressed and the county has been inching closer to that threshold during the last several weeks as vaccinations increased.
The county recorded the first two cases of the virus on March 7, 2020, and this week marks the 62nd week since the virus surfaced in the county.
All six of Montgomery County’s neighboring counties also reported decreases in positivity rates during the latest period and several are getting closer to the preferred 5% threshold.
Neighboring Berks County continued to record the highest COVID-19 positivity rate in the region, 10.1% for the seven-day period ending May 6, and it was only a slight decrease from the 10.6% positivity rate recorded the previous week.
Lehigh County recorded a COVID-19 positivity rate of 6.5%, down significantly from 8.3% the previous week. In Bucks County, the COVID-19 positivity rate also was 6.5% for the week ending May 6, down from 7.3% the previous week.
In Chester County, the latest positivity rate stood at 5.6%, down from 6.1% the previous week.
Delaware County recorded the lowest COVID-19 positivity rate in the region at 5.1% on May 6, down more than a percentage point from 6.6% recorded on April 29.
Finally, Philadelphia’s COVID-19 positivity rate decreased to 6.2% during the latest reporting period, down from 7.6%, according to state data.
The statewide positivity rate as of May 6 was 6.6% which was a decrease from the 7.6% positivity rate recorded the previous week.
Gov. Tom Wolf said the state’s COVID-19 dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the state’s mit
igation efforts. The state’s weekly report is based on nasal swab tests, or the PCR, which are considered confirmed tests.
“We continue to evaluate all data like hospitalizations, deaths, testing, vaccinations as well as our confirmed and probable case increases to best understand the impact of COVID-19 in our communities,” Wolf said recently as he reviewed state data. “All data shows that the fight against COVID-19 is still underway. We appreciate the commitment of our fellow Pennsylvanians in continuing this fight.”
Meanwhile, state and local officials urged citizens to continue to abide by COVID-19 mitigation measures regarding the wearing of masks and social distancing, downloading the COVID Alert PA app, and getting vaccinated when it’s their turn.
COVID Alert PA is a free mobile app, offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, that uses Bluetooth low energy technology and the Exposure Notification System, created jointly by Google and Apple, to notify and give public health guidance to anyone who may have been in close contact with a person who also has the app and has tested positive for COVID-19.