Politics & Government
31 More Die On Montco's Deadliest Coronavirus Day
Officials said they "are not reading anything" into the rise, noting that it's a matter of timing when the data comes in.
NORRISTOWN, PA — Officials announced the deadliest day yet of the coronavirus outbreak in Montgomery County, as 31 new fatalities were discovered on Thursday.
Thirteen of the deaths were residents of long term care facilities, while at least 14 of Thursday's deaths were confirmed as being hospitalized at the time of death. The rest are unknown.
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That brings the total number of confirmed deaths in the county up to 275 as of Thursday afternoon. The presumed death total — which counts individuals who have COVID-19 listed as their cause of death but have not had that diagnosis confirmed by a test — is at 420.
The deaths announced Thursday all occurred with the last five days, officials said. As both state and county health departments have noted in the past, single day death totals and case totals should not be viewed in a vacuum. Officials come up with daily numbers after reconciling multiple data sources, and daily increases are often due to this process.
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"I don't read anything into it," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said on Thursday's rise. "I think it's just a timing issue."
The previous single-day high of 18 deaths in the county came some two weeks ago, back on April 15.
The new victims ranged in age from 59 to 96, according to authorities.
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What's more important — and what state officials are looking at as one part of the equation when determining when certain areas are safe to reopen — is the daily average of new cases over a 14 day period. So a single day increase in either deaths or new cases does not neccessarily mean things are suddenly worsening again, according to authorities. The average of two weeks gives a better snapshot of where the virus is at in the county.
About 83 percent of all deaths in Montgomery County have occurred in long term care facilities.
The state's death count went up by 479 Wednesday, and now stands at 2,195. The statewide total of cases is at 44,336.
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