Pennsylvania's Percent Positivity Rate Approaches 1 Percent

PENNSYLVANIA —COVID metrics continue to steadily drop in Pennsylvania as the statewide positivity rate is on the brink of falling below 1 percent.

The positivity rate on tests fell from 1.2 to 1.1 percent over the past week, and the downward trend continued across other measures over the same time period.

In the week ending July 8, new cases of COVID-19 fell by from 888 last week to 829, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The incidence rate likewise dropped in the past seven days, down from 6.9 per 100,000 residents in the week ending July 1, to 6.5 per 100,000 residents in the week ending July 8.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported on Thursday there were 1,213,543 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state, with 222 positive cases reported on July 7.

The most recent week saw 295 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 58 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19, the DOH said. Overall, the average number of hospitalizations per week dropped by 42.6 in the week just ended.

Vaccination rate

Data from the CDC shows Pennsylvania ranked 9th among the 50 U.S. states in the percentage of its population having received first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. For total doses administered, Pennsylvania ranks 5th among all 50 states.

A CDC report representing all 67 Pennsylvania counties showed 63.3 percent of the state's population has received at least one dose of a vaccine as of July 6.

Among Pennsylvanians 18 and older, 60.8 percent are fully vaccinated while 76 percent have received their first dose, the CDC reported this week.

Pennsylvania's vaccine administrators had given 11,800,591 total vaccine doses as of July 8. That total includes 6,778,127 first or single doses and 5,022,464 second doses, according to the DOH.

Across the state, 5,472,507 people are fully vaccinated, with a seven-day moving average of more than 13,100 people per day receiving vaccinations. The DOH reports 1,305,620 people are partially vaccinated, meaning they have received one dose of a two-dose vaccine.

The only Pennsylvania county with a COVID-19 test percent positivity rate above 5 percent was Potter County, at 6.5 percent in the week ended July 8, placing it in CDC's category for moderate risk of transmission. All other counties were in low-risk categories.

Based on case incidence rates, four counties remain in the moderate risk category, defined as incidence rates between 20 and 50 per 100,000 residents. Cameron, Fulton, Potter, and Wayne counties had, respectively, incidence rates of 22.5, 27.5, 24.2, and 37.0 per 100,000 residents, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health July 8 report.

COVID-19 Deaths Across PA

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, 27,737 Pennsylvanians have died of COVID-19 as of Friday data. The vast majority of deaths have been those of white Pennsylvanians in their 80s and 90s, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health's most recent report.

The numbers of deaths were in the hundreds for 5-year age groups between 40 and 59, with numbers tripling in the decade between 59 and 70, from 923 to 3,074 for those ages 70-74. The highest death count by age was for those between ages 85-89, at 4,533.

Philadelphia County has led the state in the number of COVID-19 deaths, with 3,767, followed by Allegheny County with 2,016 and Montgomery County with 1,738 deaths.

Those being heavily populated counties, the death rate per 100,000 residents provides a different measure of how hard hit an area was by COVID-19. Northumberland County has had the highest death rate of Pennsylvania's counties, at 398.5 deaths per 100,000 residents. Others with death rates over 300 per 100,000 were Mifflin County with 394.5, Montour County with 367.5, Juniata County with 355.4, Sullivan County with 346.2, and Cambria County with 338.7.

The Department continues to urge Pennsylvanians to follow CDC guidance for wearing a mask where required by law, rule, and regulations, including following healthcare, local business, and workplace guidance.

For the protection of themselves and others, individuals who have not yet been vaccinated or are partially vaccinated, are still encouraged to wear a mask when in public, the DOH said.

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