Positivity

(3.4%) and Berks (4.8%).

Gov. Tom Wolf said the state’s COVID-19 dashboard is designed to provide early warning signs of factors that affect the state’s mitigation efforts. The data

available on the dashboard includes week-over-week case differences, incidence rates, test percent-positivity, and rates of hospitalizations, ventilations and emergency room visits tied to COVID-19.

As of Aug. 27, the statewide percent-positivity rate decreased to 3.2 percent from 3.4 percent the previous

week.

Earlier this week, Wolf said he was pleased about the continued decrease in the statewide positivity rate.

“This is a testament that our actions are working, but we still have more work to do. The virus is still circulating, and we must continue to wear masks, practice social distancing and

avoid large gatherings to keep our numbers low, stop the spread and allow more freedom,” Wolf said.

To keep the positivity rate below 5 percent, Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Dr. Valerie Arkoosh stressed residents should continue to abide by all mask wearing, handwashing and social

distancing recommendations. Arkoosh also urged residents to cooperate with contact tracers.

“Working together, we continue to suppress viral spread in Montgomery County. But our data does show a small uptick in numbers, which reminds us that we cannot let up. This definitely serves as a reminder

that this virus is very much still with us and is still extremely contagious,” Arkoosh said during a news briefing earlier this week. “Keeping the spread of the virus low will enable our businesses to stay open, facilitate our children returning to in-person school and keep our hospitals and first responders safe.”