CDC scores 4 PA counties at high COVID community level. The latest on new cases, more
In its latest update Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scored four Pennsylvania counties at a high COVID-19 community level, up from one the week prior.
The update comes as the state reports 12,186 new cases during the seven-day period from Oct. 19 to Oct. 25, the latest data available. As of Monday, the state’s COVID-19 dashboard was reporting statewide deaths through Oct. 23. In the period from Oct. 19 to Oct. 23, 41 Pennsylvania residents died from the virus.
In addition, as of Oct. 26, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reports 1,301 hospitalizations statewide, with 155 individuals in adult intensive care units and 65 on ventilators. That hospitalization figure is up from the prior week, when 1,228 individuals were receiving such treatment statewide.
COVID-19 community levels in PA
The CDC, which updates COVID-19 community levels and other data weekly, reports 11,963 new cases for the seven-day week ending Oct. 26. It reports 139 deaths in the state for the same period.
Four counties are at a high community level: Tioga, Bradford, Sullivan and Susquehanna.
Crawford County, which was the only county at high last week, has been downgraded to a medium level.
The CDC’s community levels are calculated on new cases and hospitalizations per 100,000 people, both seven-day totals, along with the percent of COVID-designated beds occupied at hospitals, a seven-day average.
In counties at high, the CDC recommends masking in indoor, public places. Those at high risk for severe illness should consider masking and other safety measures in counties designated medium.
Other prevention measures, like testing if you have symptoms and getting vaccinated, are recommended for everyone, regardless of level.
COVID-19 in Centre County
Under Thursday’s update, Centre County remains at a low community level.
For the week running Oct. 20 to Oct. 26, the CDC reports 137 new coronavirus cases in the county. The positivity rate is at 10.69%, down from 11.75% last week, though the number of tests reportedly performed was down more than 12%.
An area’s positivity rate may not be the strongest indicator of COVID-19 in a community amid the rise of unreportable, home testing, health officials have said.
As of Monday, Mount Nittany Health reported 14 COVID-19 patients at the facility, ranging in age from 35 to 91. The hospital has had 10 or more such patients for the last week.