Bucks County Reports 44.5% Jump In COVID-19 Cases

Bucks County is seeing a large spike in COVID-19 cases, according to data released Monday night.

The county health department reported learning of 383 positive cases last week. The previous week saw 265 cases.

The 44.5 percent increase in cases matches numbers not seen in the county since May and goes along with worrying upticks in cases numbers throughout Pennsylvania and across the country. The county’s COVID-19 test positivity rate was 3.3 percent, which is lower than the state average.

Last week, the nation reported a record number of 83,000 positive cases on Friday and Saturday. Pennsylvania set a record with 2,219 new cases on Friday.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bucks County’s COVID-19 case rate last week was “moderate.” A total of 15 counties, including nearby Philadelphia, were listed as having “substantial” spread.

Last week, hospitalizations of Bucks Countians remained low at 14, but the number showed a slight increase over the previous update. A total of two people were in in critical condition on ventilators.

Since the spring, medical treatments for COVID-19 treatments have improved, but hospitalization numbers often lag behind new case reports.

Last week, a 57-year-old Bucks County man with COVID-19 died. He had a history of underlying health conditions, according to county health officials.

Looking at last week’s 383 new COVID-19 infections, 187 were traced to household contacts, 83 were due to community spread, 32 were blamed on out-of-state travel, 17 from workplace infections, 11 were residents or employees of long-term care facilities, nine were health care workers, and 44 were unable to complete full contact tracing interviews.

“Despite seeing case increases, deaths and serious illnesses remain low.  That’s the good news,” Bucks County Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker said in a statement. “However, people continue to attend parties and other social gatherings where masks and social distancing seem to disappear – this accounts for many of our additional cases.

“While we understand there is some COVID ‘fatigue’, let’s not forget that anyone with whom you come into contact may have the virus,” Damsker said.

Easy and effective ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 are wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, washing hands, and avoiding gatherings.

“It is only by working together that Pennsylvanians can prevent the spread of the virus,” Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday.

Officials have warned for months that a fall resurgence of the virus in Pennsylvania was likely.

Nationally, cases in some locations are out of control and hospitals are overwhelmed. The White House chief of staff over the weekend admitted that the country was “not going to control” COVID-19 because it was contagious and the president stated the country was doing better despite seeing massive case numbers.

Keeping down the spread of the virus, officials have said, is the way to keep Americans healthy and allow businesses to remain open to customers until a vaccine is found.

Since the pandemic started, Bucks County has seen 9,342 residents test positive for COVID-19, 535 deaths, 8,262 recoveries, and the mediage age of those infected is 49, while the median age of death is 84.

The latest numbers as of Monday:

Bristol Borough: 1 to 10 active cases

Bristol Township: 53 active cases

Falls Township: 18 active cases

Hulmeville Borough: 1 to 10 active cases

Langhorne Borough: 0 active cases

Langhorne Manor Borough: 0 active cases

Middletown Township: 22 active cases

Penndel Borough: 0 active cases

Tullytown Borough: 1 to 10 active cases

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