Montco reports 161 new COVID-19 cases over three days

NORRISTOWN >> The number of daily new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continued to decline in Montgomery County, according to health data for the latest three-day period.

The 161 daily new positive COVID-19 cases, reported in the county during the three-day period Saturday through Monday, brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 58,096 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 who resided in a long-term care facility.

Officials also reported five additional COVID-19 deaths during the most recent three-day period ending Monday, bringing the county’s death toll to 1,311 since the pandemic began a year ago.

The latest three-day total of new cases represented a sharp decrease from the 320 new cases reported during the three-day period Saturday through Monday a week ago.

The number of virus-related hospitalizations also is decreasing. There were 162 COVID-19 patients in the county’s nine hospitals on Monday, down from 208 a week ago. Officials said 26 of the current patients required ventilators.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Monday that 225,491 county residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Another 225,057 county residents have received a first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, according to state data.

Everyone age 16 and over is eligible for the vaccine.

All of the county-run clinics now offer both the Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines. Hours vary and include day, evening and weekend hours. Anyone who schedules a vaccine appointment with the county Office of Public Health will have the ability to choose their clinic location, the date and time of their appointment and which vaccine they want to receive.

The county-run vaccination clinics are now offering walk-up availability for a vaccine in order to reduce barriers and make it easier for people to get the vaccine when it is most convenient.

While no appointments are necessary for first doses, people are encouraged to bring their identification and insurance card to register at the clinic site. If residents prefer, they can still make appointments at http://vaccine.montcopa. org/ to speed up the registration process.

Walk-ups are only available for first doses of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine or the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine. Second doses will be scheduled by email or phone, officials said.

The county Office of Public Health is operating vaccination clinics, at various hours, at the following locations: the former JCPenney store at the King of Prussia Mall in Upper Merion; the former Sears location at the Montgomery Mall in Montgomery Township; the Parkside Shopping Center, in the former Petco location, in Willow Grove; Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main St., in Lansdale; Bethel Community Church, 575 N. Keim St., in Pottstown; and St. John’s Episcopal Church, 528 Church St. in Norristown.

Another vaccination clinic is available on Saturdays at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 712 Penllyn Pike in

Spring House. weekdays starting at 7 a.m.

More specific weekly vaccine by visiting www.montcopa. clinic schedules, including org/COVID-19 and clicking dates and hours, on the county testing information are posted at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19Vaccine button. Residents can also register for a test at or the public can call the any of the six sites by calling county’s COVID-19 hotline 610-970-2937 beginning at (833) 875-3967 for a list of at 8:30 a.m. daily. locations and hours. In Pottstown, the testing

Additionally, testing is site is located at the county’s still available for all county Office of Public Health Pottstown residents and those who Health Center at 364 work in the county. The King St. county established outdoor In Norristown, a testing walk-up testing sites in Pottstown, site is located on the parking Norristown, Lansdale, lot of the Delaware Valley Willow Grove, Ardmore Community Health Norristown and Green Lane to accommodate Regional Health Center those who want at 1401 DeKalb St. to be tested. In Lansdale, a testing site

The six county-run sites is located at 421 Main St. Another provide self-administered testing site is located tests at no cost, although insurance at Deep Creek and Snyder will be billed if you roads in the Green Lane have it. The sites do require Park area. an appointment for testing. In Ardmore, a testing site

The six sites are open is located at 114 W. Lancaster Monday through Friday, Ave. In Willow Grove, a testing weather permitting and at site is at First Baptist varying hours. Same-day Church - Crestmont, 1678 appointments can be made Fairview Ave.