Citing Delta Variant, Montco Officials Continue Vaccine Push

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — While coronavirus cases have continued to plummet in Montgomery County, officials aren't letting up on their push to vaccinate the rest of the eligible population. That's especially true now that the more contagious delta variant is in Pennsylvania, and reportedly comprises up to a quarter of all new cases in the United States.

All statistics indicate the virus has nearly vanished in Montgomery County and across Pennsylvania. The percent positivity rate is down to 0.5 percent, while the past week has seen just 41 new cases.

"That success can be attributed to all of you," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said this week. "You've all stepped up in a very big way and our County-wide vaccination totals continue to increase with each passing week."

>>COVID's Delta Variant Arrives In PA: What To Know

The county has now vaccinated 48.62 percent of its 12 and older population. Arkoosh said the push to get the vaccine to the rest of the community is ongoing.

"We will need this to continue, particularly as variants like Delta circulate in our community, " she said. "If you haven't gotten vaccinated yet, I ask that you do so. The higher our vaccination numbers go, the better equipped we will be for whatever COVID-19 throws our way."

First found in India, delta has been identified as a variant of concern by the CDC and the World Health Organization.

The delta variant is a mutation of alpha — also called B.1.1.7 or the U.K. variant — another variant first discovered in the United Kingdom. While researchers have concluded the delta variant is more contagious than other strains, they're still working to determine where it causes more severe disease.

The prevalence of the variant in Pennsylvania remains very low, with only one percent of genomically sequenced cases testing positive, according to the latest data from the CDC.

Moreover, the CDC confirms that COVID-19 vaccines provide at least "some" protection against delta. They also maintain that the presence of delta does not mean that mask wearing should be mandatory. Pennsylvania just fully lifted their masking guidance on Monday.