Schuylkill County’s Percent-Positivity Rate of COVID-19 Drops to 9.2%

The percent-positivity rate of COVID-19 infections in Schuylkill County dropped nearly 2% in the last week.

According to information released Monday from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health, the percent-positivity rate of COVID in Schuylkill County is 9.2%. That’s higher than the statewide average of 7% but less than the 11.1% reported by the state in Schuylkill County last Monday.

The statewide average rose from 6% to 7% in the last week.

Schuylkill County Now Has 12th Highest Percent-Positivity Rate of COVID in Pennsylvania

Last week, Schuylkill County had the 3rd highest percent-positivity rate in Pennsylvania, behind Bradford (12.4%) and Armstrong (11.9%) counties.

On Monday, the percent-positivity rate locally is 9.2% and Schuylkill County is 1 of 52 counties in Pennsylvania with a rate higher than 5%.

The percent-positivity measures the rate at which COVID-19 tests come back with a positive result.

“That’s how we know the increase is not just due to increased testing. It’s due to increased cases of COVID-19,” Health Sect. Rachel Levine said Monday.

The relatively high percent-positivity rate in Schuylkill County means, according to the state’s definition, that there is a “substantial level of community transmission” of COVID-19.

A total of 116 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 in Schuylkill County. Currently, there are 32 Schuylkill County residents hospitalized with COVID-19 complications. Two of them are on ventilators.

Highest Percent-Positivity Rate of COVID-19, By Pennsylvania County (Nov. 9, 2020)

Here are the Pennsylvania counties with the highest percent-positivity rates, as reported by the Dept. of Health on November 9, 2020:

1. Bedord (17.5%)
2. Indiana (14)
3. Armstrong (13.1)
4. Franklin (12.3)
5. Lawrence (12.2)
6. Bradford (12.1)
7. Wyoming (12)
8. Venango (11.8)
9. Juniata (9.7)
10. Huntingdon (9.5)
11. Mifflin (9.5)
12. Schuylkill (9.2)
13. Philadelphia (9.1)
14. Fulton (8.8)
15. Elk (8.4)
16. Lebanon (8.4)
17. Monroe (8.2)
18. Butler (8.1)
19. Blair (8)
20. Luzerne (7.9)

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