'High' COVID Spread In 14 PA Counties: CDC

PENNSYLVANIA — COVID-19 cases continue to rise at an alarming rate in Pennsylvania with 50 of 67 counties now having high or substantial community spread of the virus, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics.

According to CDC guidelines, anyone in an area with substantial or high levels should wear masks indoors.

The latest CDC statistics cover the Aug. 1-7 period. Fourteen counties now have a high rate of transmission and 36 have substantial rates.

More than a dozen counties have been elevated to the high category in just seven days. In the July 26-Aug. 1 period, just one county — Crawford — had a high level of community transmission. Twenty-four others had substantial spread.

Just nine counties in Pennsylvania had high or substantial virus spread in the July 25-31 period.

The CDC and other health organizations have emphasized that people getting vaccinated is the best way to slow community transmission of the virus. As of Aug. 6, 63.4 percent of Pennsylvania residents age 18 and older have been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Here are the full vaccination rates for those 18 and older for the 51 counties with high or substantial spread:

HIGH

• Potter 32.3 percent.

• Bedford, 37.7 percent.

• Clinton, 42.7 percent.

• Beaver, 46.6 percent.

• Crawford, 49.6 percent.

• Perry, 50 percent.

• Lawrence, 50.3 percent.

• Adams, 52.2 percent.

• Pike, 52.4 percent.

• Monroe: 56.4 percent.

• Northampton, 62.4 percent.

• Dauphin, 62.8 percent.

• Lancaster, 63.3 percent.

• Cumberland, 65.4 percent.

SUBSTANTIAL

• Fulton, 32.6 percent.

• Clarion, 42.9 percent.

• Indiana, 44.8 percent.

• Susquehanna, 45.3 percent.

• Somerset, 46.8 percent.

• Greene, 47 percent.

• Franklin, 47.9 percent.

• Clearfield, 49.7 percent.

• Lycoming, 51.9 percent.

• Mercer, 53.9 percent.

• Cambria, 54.4 percent.

• Lebanon, 54.9 percent.

• Westmoreland, 55.7 percent.

• Centre, 55.8 percent.

• Philadelphia, 55.8 percent.

• Fayette, 56 percent.

• Northumberland, 57.8 percent.

• Wayne, 58.7 percent.

• Erie, 58.8 percent.

• Berks, 58.8 percent.

• York, 58.9 percent.

• Wyoming, 59 percent.

• Columbia, 59.3 percent.

• Schuykill, 59.5 percent.

• Washington, 60.1 percent.

• Luzerne, 60.6 percent.

• Carbon, 60.6 percent.

• Butler, 61.6 percent.

• Allegheny, 63.9 percent.

• Montgomery, 64.9 percent.

• Chester, 65.5 percent.

• Bucks, 67.3 percent.

• Delaware, 69.8 percent.

• Lehigh, 70.4 percent.

• Lackawanna, 71.4 percent.

• Montour, 77.6 percent.

(Graphic: CDC)

Community transmission spread key:
Red: High.
Brown: Substantial.
Yellow: Moderate.
Blue: Low.

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