Montco records 8 more deaths from COVID

Health department reports 8,683 county residents received full vaccine doses

NORRISTOWN » Another 230 individuals have tested positive for the coronavirus and eight more people died from the virus in Montgomery County, according to the latest data available from the county.

The 230 new COVID-19 positive cases, reported on Tuesday, brought the county’s total number of cases to 41,656 since March 7, 2020, when the first two cases of the virus were identified in the county. Officials said seven of the new cases were individuals who resided in long-term care facilities.

Officials said the eight COVID-19 deaths reported on Tuesday brought the countywide death toll to 1,125 since March.

According to the county’s latest data, as of Tuesday, there were 285 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 at the county’s nine hospitals, down from 324 patients a week ago. Officials said 25 of the current COVID-19 patients required ventilators.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Tuesday that 8,683 county residents had received the full two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines through Jan. 25, during the ongoing Phase 1A of the state’s vaccine distribution program. Another 35,234 residents had received the first dose of the vaccine, according to state data.

Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to achieve optimum protection.

Statewide, officials reported that through Jan. 25 there were 473,449 first doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines administered as well as 132,184 full doses.

Three weeks ago, the Montgomery County Office of Public Health began vaccinating, at a public vaccination clinic hosted by the Montgomery County Community College campus in Whitpain, those eligible in Phase 1A of the state’s vaccination plan. At the clinic, which is open Monday