There’s only five counties in the state where COVID-19 is still at the substantial level of community transmission, and McKean and Potter are both on that list.
Elk County remains at moderate risk, while Cameron County is at low risk, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s monitoring system.
While the region’s data shows higher rates than most of the state, it also shows improvement in McKean County.
McKean County had 15 fewer new cases of COVID-19 from May 14 to 20, and a percent positivity of 11.5% — down from 16.2% a week earlier. The incidence rate was 105.8 per 100,000 residents.
However, the other counties saw their rates rise again.
Elk County had three additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, a positivity rate of 7.1%, up from 6.3%, and an incidence rate of 40.1 per 100,000 residents.
Potter County had one additional COVID-19 confirmed case, a positivity rate of 14.2% — nearly double the prior week’s rate of 7.5% — and an incidence rate of 187.6 per 100,000 residents.
Cameron County had one less new case of COVID-19, a positivity rate of 14.3% _ up from 9.7% — and an incidence rate of 67.5 per 100,000 residents.
Wyoming County is the only other one in the state with a positivity rate over 10%.
Gov. Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam released a weekly status update, highlighting a seven-day case increase of 6,950 cases, a statewide percent positivity of 4.5% and 5 counties with substantial transmission status.
“We are proud to report that more than 10 million vaccinations have been administered to more than 6 million residents – within our vaccine jurisdiction alone,” Wolf said. “We still have more work to do, but we are proud of the progress. For each resident vaccinated, we inch closer and closer towards achieving herd immunity, protecting our loved ones and making our communities safer.”
As of May 20, the state has seen a seven-day case increase of 6,950 cases; the previous seven-day increase was 9,953 cases, indicating 3,003 fewer new cases across the state over the past week compared to the previous week.
The statewide percent-positivity decreased to 4.5 percent from 5.3 percent when compared to last week. There are now 28 counties that have a positivity rate lower than 5 percent. There are no counties reporting over 20 percent positivity rate.
“As more residents get vaccinated, the cases are trending downwards,” Beam said. “We will continue educating all Pennsylvanians as we believe having good information will influence good decisions — like getting vaccinated.”
