6 Key Coronavirus Metrics Spike In Montgomery Co., State Says

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — As the more contagious delta variant spreads and officials work to increase the vaccination rate, coronavirus numbers have once again started to increase in Montgomery County and around the region.

The past week saw the first significant spike in COVID numbers in the county in months, as a rapid decline in cases had brought the percent positivity rate all the way down to 0.5 percent.

But over the most recently tracked seven day period, covering the period from July 16 to July 22, all six metrics used in the state Department of Health's COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard moved in the wrong direction.

>>PA's COVID-19 Positivity Rate Shoots Up As Delta Variant Spreads

Here's how Montgomery County fared in the most recent data:

• The percent positivity rate on tests increased from 1.5 percent to 2.4 percent (and increased 1.9 percent from its low point some two weeks ago)
• The total number of new cases rose from 119 to 152
• The incidence rate per 100,000 residents increased from 14 to 18
• The average daily number of hospitalizations rose from 12 to 16
• The average daily number of patients on ventilators increased slightly from 1.6 to 1.7
• The percentage of emergency room visits due to coronavirus symptoms increased from 0.8 to 0.9 percent

The countywide increases are similar to increases being seen across the state, as Pennsylvania's positivity rate also shot up to 2.8 percent.

In some jurisdictions like Philadelphia, officials are strongly recommending that people wear masks while indoors in public settings. Montgomery County officials have made no such move thus far. In their updated guidance for the 2021-22 school year, the county said masks are not required for unvaccinated individuals while indoors, as long as that district's incidence rate per 100,000 is at 9 or less, and the positivity rate on tests is below 5 percent.