COVID-19 Metrics In Chesco Show Mixed Results

West Chester PA

08 November, 2021

11:39 AM

Description

CHESTER COUNTY, PA —The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 went up slightly last week in Chester County, one of a few COVID metrics that rose. However, metrics relating to hospitalizations and the number of patients on ventilators declined, the PA Department of Health reported Friday. In the week-to-week measures reported by DOH, new COVID-19 cases in Chester County rose by 2. In the week that ended Oct 28, Chesco saw 471 new cases, and in the week that ended Nov. 4, 473 new cases were reported. New COVID-19 cases had fallen by 89 in the 7 days between Oct. 22 and Oct. 28, dropping from 560 new cases (week ending Oct. 22) to 471 cases (week ending Oct 28). There was a similar slight uptick in the incidence rate per 100,000 for the week ending Nov. 4. The rate for the previous week was 89.7, which rose to 90.1 last week. An incidence rate of 100 is the CDC's line set between High Transmission risk — over 100 per 100,000 — and Substantial Transmission risk, which is between 50 and 99.9 new cases in a week per 100,000 residents. Chesco had dropped out of the CDC's High Transmission Risk category during the week ending Oct. 29, when the transmission rate fell to 84.0 per 100,000 residents. During the previous week (ending Oct 22), the transmission rate had been 106.7, and the rate had been at 120.4 for the week ending Oct. 15. The percent positivity rate for COVID-19 tests given in Chester County also rose slightly last week, up to 6.2 percent. It had been at 5.8 percent for the week ending Oct. 22. Average daily hospitalizations did have a sizable drop in the week ending Nov. 4. Two weeks ago, 41.6 people were hospitalized each day for COVID-19 in Chester County. But last week, that number fell to 29.1 people per day. Also, fewer patients were on ventilators each day across the county last week than during the previous week. For the week ending Nov. 4, the daily average was 3.4 patients on ventilators. That number had been 4.6 patients on on ventilators per day the previous week (ending Oct. 22). Another metric that declined last week was Emergency Room visits due to COVID-like illness (CLI). This measures those ER visits as a percentage of all ER visits. Last week, ending Nov. 4, 1.2 percent of Chester County ER visits were for COVID-like illness. That number had been 1.6 percent for the week ending Oct. 22. Statewide, there were 22,497 new COVID-19 cases across Pennsylvania for the week ending Nov. 4, a rise of 37 cases over the previous week's total of 22,460, according to the Department of Health. The statewide incidence rate per 100,000 residents rose to 165.3 for the week ending in Nov. 4, after it had been 159.5 the previous week. Though the rate had been 175.4 in the week that ended Oct. 22. The Chester County Health Department continues its effort to vaccinate against COVID-19 and also the flu, as the season begins. The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to children ages 5 to 11, and the county has more details about vaccine efficacy and availability for children on its website. The Health Department's clinic operates at the Chester County Government Services Center, 601 Westtown Road, in West Chester. It distributes, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. It's open Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Wednesdays from noon to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get more information here. Flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics around Chesco this week are listed below. Booster COVID-19 shots are available. Clicking on the location links to a registration page. WEST CHESTER FUGETT MIDDLE SCHOOL, 500 Ellis Lane, West Chester, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday GORDON EARLY LITERACY CENTER, 315 Kersey Street, Coatesville, 4:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 GREAT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL, 225 Phoenixville Pike, Malvern, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 18. Make sure you know what's happening in your town. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss any local news: https://patch.com/subscribe.