New COVID-19 Cases In Bucks Co. Highest In 7 Weeks

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — New COVID-19 cases in Bucks County were up 23 percent last week, the third week in a row that the county's number of new infections has increased.

There were 1,664 new cases reported in Bucks County last week by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That's up from the 1,349 reported the previous week, which already was a 31-percent rise from the week before.

Last week's seven-day average for new cases was 256, the county's highest in seven weeks. And the percentage of positive coronavirus tests in Bucks County spiked to 9.2 percent, up from 6.7 percent two weeks ago.

The numbers also were enough for an unwelcome new milestone in Bucks County, surpassing 50,000 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. As of Tuesday morning, there had been 50,345 COVID cases reported in Bucks County, according to state data.

The rise in new cases mirrors similar figures both statewide and in many parts of the nation. On Monday, Pennsylvania officials announced a seven-day increase of 17,811 cases, up from 14,632 cases the previous week.

The statewide percentage of positive COVID tests increased to 7.6 percent, up from 6.5 percent the previous week.

"Throughout this reporting period, we reached over one million COVID-19 cases to date in Pennsylvania as well as an uptick on our statewide percent positivity," Gov. Tom Wolf said. "The warmer weather brings with it opportunities to be outdoors, but we must still unite against COVID-19 by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and washing your hands frequently until the virus is no longer a threat in our communities."

So far, Bucks County's hospitalization and death numbers have not followed the case-number increase. There were 68 people in Bucks County hospitals with COVID at the end of last week, up just three from the week before.

Of those, 16 were in intensive care and 12 were on ventilators.

Eleven new deaths from COVID-19 were reported in Bucks last week, bringing the county's total since the pandemic began to 1,177.

Bucks County officials urged residents to continue following mask and distancing protocols, while also focusing on the county's vaccination efforts, which continue to ramp up.

"Our cases are up a little as people are starting to go back to normal," said Dr. David Damsker, director of the Bucks County Health Department. "However, vaccinations continue to greatly outpace cases, which is why it is much less concerning than it has been in the past. We’re on our way to beating this."

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Through Saturday, 156,595 people had been at least partially vaccinated in Bucks County. That's roughly equivalent to 31 percent of the county's adult population.

Bucks County four mass vaccination clinics — three on Bucks County Community College campuses and one at Neshaminy Mall — set another weekly record, administering 13,847 doses. In all, 42,813 vaccination shots were given last week throughout Bucks County.

In a news release, county officials said they are working to make vaccination appointments for a larger group of people. Over the past week, appointment invitations were emailed to 65,000 people who had registered for a shot with the county.

On Tuesday, officials said, last-call emails will be sent to everyone who pre-registered with the county who is eligible under Phase 1A of the state's vaccination plan. Anyone who has already been vaccinated or scheduled an appointment should disregard the notice.

The outreach is part of Wolf's order that all 1A-eligible residents be scheduled for a first dose by March 31. Those appointments are being booked well into late April at the county’s vaccination clinics.

Starting Thursday, April 1, Bucks County no longer will maintain a 1A wait list. A new link will be posted to the county website’s vaccination information page, where all 1A-eligible people can register directly for an appointment.

By May 1, the county expects to open appointments to all residents, regardless of age, occupation or health conditions. Through Saturday, 77,774 people had been fully vaccinated in Bucks County, along with 78,821 who had been partially vaccinated.