The state’s positive test rate for the coronavirus is still declining, but most provinces in Pennsylvania are still showing a significant spread of the virus, the government of Tom Wolf said Monday.
The positive test rate for COVID-19 dropped to 8.6% for the week of January 29-February. 4, lower than 9.3% during the previous week. The positive test score has now dropped to eight consecutive weeks after reaching a high of 16.2% in December. While the rate is falling, health officials said a positive test score of more than 5% is a source of concern.
Statewide, 59 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties still show a significant spread of the virus. The Wolf administration uses three categories to measure the distribution of COVID-19: low, moderate, and significant. Last week, there were 63 provinces with a significant spread. Most of December and January were significantly distributed in each province.
There are now eight counties in Pennsylvania that have not spread significantly. The governor welcomes the improved data around the state.
‘This is the first week in many, many weeks that we see provinces with a lower than five percent positivity rate, as well as all 67 countries that have a lower than 20 percent positive percentage. “This is good news for the spread of this virus 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 distance. He also stressed the importance of ‘being vaccinated when it’s your turn’.
Take a closer look
Here’s a look at the level of transmission in the provinces of Pennsylvania.
Low: Cameron County
Mild: 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, Lebanon, Lehigh, Lucerne, Lyoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne en York
Government officials have encouraged school officials to consider the extent of the spread of the community of COVID-19 to determine whether students should be in school or remotely trained. Last month, the Wolf administration said it recommends that school districts focus on returning elementary school students to classrooms, even in provinces with a significant spread of the virus.
Local school leaders are still appealing to decide whether schools should hold classes in person, at a distance or with a mix of face-to-face and virtual teaching.
Vaccines
Last week, Pennsylvania Health Minister Alison Beam said the state will continue to improve its distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, an effort that has drawn increasing dual criticism. In an interview with PennLive’s editorial last week, Beam said that some vaccine providers withhold the first doses incorrectly and unnecessarily (the vaccines require two doses).
Beam also indicated last week that suppliers who give vaccines faster will give preference. The more efficient providers will get a greater supply of the available vaccine, Beam said.
According to the Department of Health, the state has administered more than 1.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Philadelphia is making its own effort to distribute vaccines.
According to the state Department of Health, more than 870,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Pennsylvania and more than 22,000 deaths have been linked to COVID-19.
Most of those infected develop relatively mild symptoms and many never get sick. But the coronavirus carries risks for everyone, especially the elderly and people with health complications, say doctors and researchers.