Two local counties are showing a zero percent positivity rate for COVID-19, while two others are showing improvement.
On Tuesday, data for Elk and Cameron counties showed positivity rates of zero, and incidence rates of zero. In Elk County, there was one less case of COVID-19 during the most recent time frame, and in Cameron, two fewer cases.
Potter County was still listed in the category of moderate community spread of COVID-19. According to the state health department, Potter County’s positivity rate was 9.3%, with five more positive cases in the most recent week, and an incidence rate of 66.6 per 100,000 residents.
McKean County was in the low level of transmission, along with Elk and Cameron. There were a total of 55 counties at this level, the health department noted. McKean County had a positivity rate of 1.6%, had one additional case of COVID-19 during the most recent week and had an incidence rate of 4.9 per 100,000 residents.
Tuesday was the final weekly COVID status update to be issued by Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam.
The update noted a seven-day case increase of 995 a statewide percent positivity of 1.2% and the second consecutive week without any counties with substantial transmission status.
“We are continuing to make progress toward stopping the spread of COVID-19 throughout the commonwealth, as many Pennsylvanians have taken responsibility for their own health and the health of their communities by getting vaccinated,” Wolf said. “This week, we are reporting less than a thousand confirmed cases, another consecutive week of decreased statewide positivity and achieving 75 percent of Pennsylvanians receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.”
As of Thursday, the state saw a seven-day case increase of 995 cases; the previous seven-day increase was 1,384 cases, indicating 389 fewer new cases across the state over the past week compared to the previous week.
The statewide percent-positivity decreased to 1.2 percent from 1.4 percent when compared to last week. There are now 65 counties that have a positivity rate lower than 5 percent. There are no counties reporting over 10 percent positivity rate.
“Over the last year and a half, Pennsylvanians have been resilient in the fight against COVID-19 every step of the way,” Beam said. “While the threat of COVID-19 has decreased, it does remain a threat in our communities. We must stay alert: get tested if we experience symptoms, answer the call when a public health professional is calling and continue to wear a mask in places where it is required.”
