Schuylkill County is heading toward being classified as one with a High rate of community transmission of COVID-19.
According to the latest data from the Centers for DIsease Control and Prevention, the two measures used to determine “community transmission” of COVID are close to the High level.
Currently, Schuylkill County is labeled as a Substantial risk of community transmission.
Schuylkill County Nears High Rate of COVID Community Transmission
Here’s where Schuylkill County currently stands in those two statistics:
Number of Cases Per 100,000 People
There have been 139 new caes of COVID in Schuylkill County over the last 7 days, ending Saturday. That’s a rate of 98.33 per 100,000.
To be considered at a High rate of transmission, a community must have at least 100 cases per 100,000 people.
Percent Positivity of COVID Tests
Another metric used to determine community transmission of COVID is the percent positivity of COVID tests. That’s a measure of positive tests among all tests conducted.
Currently, Schuylkill County’s percent positivity rate is 9.13%. To be classified as a High rate of transmission, a county must have a rate of 10%.
If either or both of those stats reaches a High level, the CDC would classify Schuylkill as having a High rate of transmission.
Despite the inevitable in regard to gaining that classification, other data shows COVID isn’t have the same adverse impact on Schuylkill County as it has in the past.
COVID-related deaths are not even registering on the CDC’s tracking. And 6 people have been hospitalized over the last 7 days here. Just 7% of ICU beds locally are being used for COVID patients.
And to put the likely change to a High rate of transmission, nearly 84% of US counties are already there.
Why Report This?
No, we don’t have a case of the cases. We’re reporting on this change and likely another change very soon because this is what governments are using to make critical decisions to you.
If and when Schuylkill County does transition to a High rate of community transmission, you may start to see stores requiring customers wear face masks.
And it’s possible that schools will try to impose mask mandates on students as they set to open at the end of the month.
Last week, according to a report from The Times-News, school board members and the Superintendent at Tamaqua Area School District butted heads over whether students would have to wear masks on buses to and from school.
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