New COVID-19 cases continue to fall in Montco
NORRISTOWN >> Montgomery County’s daily new cases of the coronavirus continued to fall, with less than 30 cases recorded on Tuesday, which was the eighteenth consecutive day that daily cases fell well below 100.
The 26 daily new positive COVID-19 cases reported in the county on Tuesday brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 58,819 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 residing in a long-term care facility.
As of Tuesday, the 14-day average of daily positive COVID-19 cases had fallen to 47.9 which was a decrease from the 14-day average of 98.8 cases reported on May 12.
Officials also reported two additional COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,325 since the pandemic began a year ago.
The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients also continued to fall.
There were 89 COVID-19 patients in the county’s nine hospitals on Tuesday, down from 131 a week ago. Officials said 15 of the current patients required ventilators.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Tuesday that 280,084 county residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Another 213,159 county residents have received a first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, according to state data.
Everyone 12 or older is eligible to receive the twodose Pfizer vaccine.
Officials said anyone under the age of 18 attending a county COVID-19 vaccination clinic must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The county will continue to administer the singledose Johnson & Johnson vaccine to those aged 18 and older. The J&J vaccine has not been authorized for those under the age of 18.
Appointments are recommended but not required. Walk-up registrations are accepted at any clinic.
To make a vaccine appointment, residents can visit https://vaccine.montcopa.org and select “Start registration.”
County officials said the county-run vaccine clinics will open for extended evening hours until 6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The county Office of Public Health is operating several vaccination clinics, at various hours, at multiple locations including malls and churches. Specific weekly vaccine clinic schedules, including dates and hours, are posted at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19Vaccine
Those county-run vaccination clinics are at the following locations:
• Bethel Community Church, 575 N. Keim St., in Pottstown (Weekday and Saturday hours)
• Bethlehem Baptist Church, 712 Penllyn Pike, Spring House, (All Saturdays in May)
• The former JCPenney store at the King of Prussia Mall in Upper Merion
• Montgomery Mall in the former Sears store, 804 Bethlehem Pike, North Wales
• Parkside Shopping Center, in the former Petco location, in Willow Grove
For general COVID-19 questions residents can email covid19@montcopa.org or call the Montgomery County COVID-19 hotline at (833) 875-3967. The hotline is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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 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.