The region’s rates of positivity for COVID-19 remain highest in the state, but the numbers of additional cases of the virus are down across the region.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, McKean County’s rate was 12% for the time period of May 7 to 13, down from 16.2% during the prior time frame of April 30 to May 6. The incidence rate was 140.3 per 100,000 residents, down from 214.2.
There were 30 fewer new confirmed cases of COVID-19 from May 7 to 13 as compared to the time frame. McKean County is still listed as substantial risk of community spread.
In Potter County, the positivity rate was 12.9%, an increase from the last time period’s rate of 7.5%. There was one additional case of COVID-19 during the current time period. The incidence rate was 181.5 per 100,000. The county remains in the substantial level of community spread.
In Cameron County, the rate was 13.8%, up from 9.7% during the last time frame. There were no new cases of COVID-19, and the county remains at low level of community transmission. The incidence rate was 89.9 per 100,000.
Elk County’s percent positivity rate was 6.4%, a very slight rise from the prior time frame, which was 6.3%. The incidence rate was 30.1 per 100,000, and there were four fewer confirmed cases of COVID-19. Elk County is in the moderate level of community transmission.
Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam, in a weekly status update, highlighted a seven-day case increase of 9,522, a statewide percent positivity of 5.3% and 22 counties with substantial transmission status.
“For the first time in many, many weeks we see less than 10,000 new cases reported. While this data is encouraging, we need to remember there are still thousands of cases being reported and we still need to take steps to protect ourselves and others — like getting vaccinated,” Wolf said. “Getting vaccinated will add the best layer of protection against this virus and getting us all back to the things we missed throughout the pandemic.”
As of Thursday, the state had seen a seven-day case increase of 9,522 cases; the previous seven-day increase was 14,400 cases, indicating 4,878 fewer new cases across the state over the past week compared to the previous week.
The statewide percent-positivity decreased to 5.3 percent from 6.6 percent when compared to last week.
“Pennsylvania is showing a decline in new cases and hospitalizations from the Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard as well as a continued increase in vaccinations,” Beam said. “Pennsylvanians continue to unite against COVID-19.”
