Schuylkill County’s COVID positive rate jumped to 11.4% over the last week, a 3.3% hike over last week’s rate.
But before everyone starts panicking in the streets, let’s put these numbers in a little perspective. While cases are up slightly, the virus appears far less deadly than even a month ago.
Yes, the 11.4% COVID positive rate, according to information from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health, does bump Schuylkill County back into the Substantial level of community transmission of the illness but it’s important to remember that this rate is simply a measure of the number of positive tests against the total number of tests administered.
Schuylkill County COVID Positive Rate Up to 11.4%
Rural counties tend to have a higher positivity rate. It’s likely people are getting tested only if they feel sick.
Schuylkill County’s positivity rate is 9th highest in Pennsylvania. Susquehanna County has the highest rate at 17.1% Elk County is second at 16.3% and Pike County is third highest at 15.8%.
Here are the top 10:
- Susquehanna – 17.1
- Elk – 16.3
- Pike 15.8
- Carbon – 13.4
- Monroe – 12.9
- Berks – 12.0
- Clinton – 12.0
- Wyoming – 11.8
- Schuylkill – 11.4
- Northampton – 11.3
The statewide average COVID positive rate, as measured during the most recent 7-day period of March 19-25 is 7.6%. That’s also up slightly over the previous 7 days.
Locally, the daily COVID case count has risen, but only slightly. From March 19-25, there were 69 more cases confirmed than the previous 7 days. That’s about 10 more per day. There are an average of 2.5 more people in Schuylkill County hospitals with COVID-related illness over those 7 days, too.
There have been 8 COVID-related deaths in March in Schuylkill County. In February, there were 24.
ALSO READ:
COVID Vaccine Rate Slows by 19% in Schuylkill County
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