NORRISTOWN – Fueled by the delta variant, new reported cases of COVID-19 in Montgomery County continued to increase this week and the county has now topped more than 62,000 positive cases since the pandemic began 17 months ago.
The 308 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in the county during the two-day period Aug. 25 to Aug. 26 brought the county’s total number of positive cases to 62,281 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. Four of the new positive cases were individuals who resided in long-term care facilities and one new case was reported among incarcerated persons at the county jail.
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 included:
* Aug. 19 – 123 cases
* Aug. 20 – 78 cases
* Aug. 21 – 125 cases
* Aug. 22 – 89 cases
* Aug. 23 – 90 cases
* Aug. 24 – 98 cases
* Aug. 25 – 157 cases
As of Aug. 25, the 14-day average of daily positive COVID-19 cases in the county stood at 99.8, up from the 14-day average of 84.9 cases on Aug. 18 and the 14-day average of 74.5 cases on Aug. 13. 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 two-day period ending Thursday, leaving the county’s death toll from the virus at 1,339 since the pandemic began in March 2020.
On Thursday, there were 100 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Montgomery County’s nine hospitals, up from 80 COVID-19 patients on Aug. 19. Seven of the current patients required ventilators, according to the county data.
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 Aug. 24 of 104.7 per 100,000 residents. There are four levels of community transmission – low, moderate, substantial and high.
The Montgomery County Office of Public Health is now accepting appointments for a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for immunocompromised individuals. Online registration is now available at www.montcopa.org/COVID-19Vaccine
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 or residents can call the county COVID-19 hotline at (833) 875-3967. 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, Aug. 27.
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.
