Schuylkill County’s COVID percent positive rate is below 10% for the first time in months.
According to information released by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health on Monday, the percent positive rate on COVID-19 PCR tests conducted from Feb. 12-18 is now 9.2%. That’s down from 11.6% last week. The week prior, it was 13.7%. But the current rate is still tied for 11th highest in the state.
However, when you look at the highest percent-positive rates in Pennsylvania, you’ll notice that the top of the list has some of the least populated counties in the state. Percent positive is based on the number of positive tests among the total number of COVID tests administered.
Statewide, the percent positive rate is now 6.5%. Sixteen counties in Pennsylvania have rates lower than 5%.
The Dept. of Health believes the percent positive rate is a good indicator of community spread of the coronavirus.
Here’s a look at the highest Percent Positive rates in Pennsylvania (by county):
- 15.5% – Forest
- 13.1% – Perry
- 10.5% – Pike
- 10% – Wayne
- 9.6% – Northampton
- 9.5% – Juniata, Monroe
- 9.4% – Carbon
- 9.3% – Lycoming, York
- 9.2% – Columbia, Schuylkill
COVID Percent Positive Rate Continues to Drop in Schuylkill County
In addition to the lower percent positive rate, several other metrics continue trending in the right direction as cases, hospitalizations and deaths attributed to COVID-19 decline nationwide, too.
Between Feb. 12-18, there were 47 fewer overall cases of COVID-19 detected in Schuylkill County than the previous week. And there are an average of 8 less hospitalizations due to COVID complications in Schuylkill County in the past week over the last.
At last report, a total of 365 Schuylkill County residents have died from COVID-19, according to Dept. of Health data. Just less than 12,000 cases of the virus (both confirmed and probable) have been detected since the start of the pandemic nearly one year ago. More than 38,000 tests on locals have come back negative.
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