Montco's COVID Positivity Rate Climbs Back Up To 3.2 Percent

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Key coronavirus metrics continued to climb in several categories this week as the delta variant spreads in Montgomery County.

The percent positivity rate is now up to 3.2 percent, an increase of 0.8 from last week's 2.4 percent, according to state data. As recently as just a few weeks ago, amid climbing vaccination rates, this rate stood at 0.5 percent.

But the "pandemic of the unvaccinated" has surged again as pockets of resistance to the shots remain, and as the more contagious delta variant grows its presence in Pennsylvania.

The total number of new cases also increased from 159 to 310, according to the most recently tracked seven-day period, covering July 23 to July 29.

Here's how Montgomery County fared in the rest of the data points:

• The incidence rate per 100,000 residents nearly doubled from 19 to 37
• The average daily number of hospitalizations rose from 16 to 21
• The average daily number of patients on ventilators decreased from 1.7 to 1.1
• The percentage of emergency room visits due to coronavirus symptoms decreased from 0.9 to 0.8 percent

The countywide increases remain similar to increases being seen across the state, as Pennsylvania's positivity rate also shot up from 2.8 to 3.9 percent.