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The state’s positive test rate for the coronavirus continues to decline, but most counties in Pennsylvania continue to show substantial spread of the virus, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said on Monday.
The positive test rate for COVID-19 fell to 8.6% for the week of January 29 to February. 4, compared to 9.3% the previous week. The positive test rate has now dropped for eight consecutive weeks after peaking at 16.2% in December. While the rate is on the decline, health officials have said that a positive test rate above 5% is cause for concern.
Statewide, 59 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties continue to show substantial spread of the virus. The Wolf administration uses three categories to assess the spread of COVID-19: low, moderate and substantial. Last week there were 63 counties with a substantial gap. There had been a substantial spread in every county for much of December and January.
There are now eight counties in Pennsylvania that do not have a substantial spread. The governor praised the improvement in data around the state.
“This is the first week in many weeks that we are seeing counties with positivity rates below 5%, as well as the 67 counties reporting positivity rates below 20% – this is good news to mitigate the this virus is spreading in our communities across the Commonwealth, ”Wolf said in a statement.
At the same time, Wolf continued to emphasize the importance of wearing masks and social distancing. He also stressed the importance of “getting vaccinated when it’s your turn”.
To look closer
Here is an overview of the level of transmission in Pennsylvania counties.
Low: Cameron County
Moderate: Armstrong, Bedford, Cambria, Elk, Indiana, Westmoreland and Wyoming
Substantial: Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Center, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Liban, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne and York
State officials have urged school officials to take into account the extent of the community spread of COVID-19 when determining whether students should be in school or educated remotely. Last month, the Wolf administration said it was recommending that school districts focus on returning elementary school students to classrooms, even in counties where the virus is widespread.
Yet local school leaders continue to appeal over whether schools should run classes in person, distance, or with a mix of face-to-face and virtual instruction.
Vaccines
Last week, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Alison Beam said the state would continue to aim to improve its distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, an effort that has attracted growing bipartisan criticism. In an interview with the PennLive Editorial Board last week, Beam said some vaccine vendors mistakenly and unnecessarily withhold first doses (vaccines require two doses).
Beam also indicated last week that priority would be given to vaccine suppliers at a faster pace. The more efficient providers will get more of the vaccine available, Beam said.
The state has administered more than 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Philadelphia is leading its own vaccine distribution effort.
More than 870,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Pennsylvania and more than 22,000 deaths have been linked to COVID-19, according to the state Department of Health.
Most of those who are infected develop relatively mild symptoms, and many never get sick at all. But the coronavirus poses risks for everyone, especially the elderly and those with health complications, say doctors and researchers.
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