Montco adds 223 cases in two days
NORRISTOWN >> Montgomery County recorded more than 200 new, positive COVID-19 cases during the most recent two-day period and the county has now topped more than 64,000 positive cases since the pandemic began 18 months ago.
The 223 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in the county during the two-day period Sept. 9 to Sept. 10 brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 64,115 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. Two of the new positive cases were individuals who resided in longterm care facilities.
New cases in the county have surged due to the delta variant since early July. Comparatively, there were only 78 new COVID-19 cases reported in the county during the seven-day period spanning July 7 to July 13 and 44 cases reported during the period spanning June 30 to July 6.
The most recent daily figures for new cases included:
Sept. 2 – 162 cases
Sept. 3 – 110 cases
Sept. 4 – 145 cases
Sept. 5 – 109 cases
Sept. 6 – 94 cases
Sept. 7 – 76 cases
Sept. 8 - 108 cases
Sept. 9 – 90 cases
Sept. 10 – 133 cases
As of Sept. 10, the 14-day average of daily positive COVID-19 cases in the county stood at 119.0, up from the 14-day average of 113.1 cases on Aug. 28. Comparatively, the 14-day average of daily COVID-19 cases in the county stood at only 5.2 cases on June 24, according to county data.
There were no new COVID-19 deaths reported in the county during the twoday period ending Friday, leaving the county’s death toll from the virus at 1,348 since the pandemic began in March 2020.
On Friday, there were 122 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Montgomery County’s nine hospitals, down from 136 COVID-19 patients on Sept. 3. Ten of the current patients required ventilators, according to the county data. Comparatively, on July 3, there were 11 COVID-19 patients in the county’s hospitals.
This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continued to list Montgomery County in the category of “high community transmission,” with a seven-day case average on Sept. 9 of 126.0 per 100,000 residents. There are four levels of community transmission - low, moderate, substantial and high.
Montgomery County recorded a coronavirus positivity rate of 5.8% for the period Sept. 3 to Sept. 9, which was down slightly from the 6.0% positivity rate recorded during the period Aug. 27 to Sept. 2, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard. Comparatively, the county had a 2.4% positivity rate recorded for the period July 16 to July 22 and on July 8 the positivity rate in the county was 0.8%.
Health officials believe having a positivity rate less than 5% indicates a county is controlling the spread of the virus and keeping it suppressed.
All six of Montgomery County’s neighboring counties also recorded positivity rates above the 5% benchmark for the seven-day period ending Sept. 9, according to the state data.
Berks County’s current positivity rate is 9.4%. Comparatively, on July 15, Berks had a positivity rate of 1.6% and on July 8, Berks had a positivity rate of 0.8%.
In Chester County, the COVID-19 positivity rate stood at 6.5% on Sept. 9. Comparatively, on July 22, Chester County had a positivity rate of 2.3%.
Bucks County recorded a positivity rate of 7.7% for the period ending Sept. 9, according to the state data, and Delaware County recorded a 6.8% positivity rate.
At 11.0%, Lehigh County recorded the highest positivity rate in the region for the seven-day period ending Sept. 9.
In Philadelphia, the positivity rate was 6.1% on Sept. 9, according to state data.
The statewide positivity rate as of Sept. 9 was 9.1% which was an increase from the 8.2% positivity rate recorded the previous week.
As of Friday, 438,329 Montgomery County residents had received either the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, representing more than 60% of those 12 and older who are eligible to receive the vaccine, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The county has a total population of 830,915.
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/COVID19Vaccine or residents can call the county COVID-19 hotline at (833) 8753967. The hotline is open five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. General questions can also be emailed to covid19@montcopa.org
The current county-run vaccination clinics are at the following locations:
• Bethel Community Church, 575 N. Keim St., in Pottstown
• Parkside Shopping Center, in the former Petco store, 2522 West Moreland Road, Willow Grove
• Human Services Center, first floor Innovation Room, 1430 DeKalb Street, Norristown
All county-run clinics will be closed on Friday, Sept. 17.
Additionally, testing is still available for all county residents and those who work in the county. The county established outdoor walk-up testing sites at several locations to accommodate those who want to be tested.
The 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.
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 section. Residents can also register for a test at any of the 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 Ardmore, a testing site is located at 114 W. Lancaster Ave.
In Willow Grove, a testing site is at the Parkside Shopping Center, in the former Petco store, at 2522 West Moreland Road.