The Bucks County Health Department reported 38 deaths and 3,227 new COVID-19 cases last week.
The COVID-19 patient deaths last week included 15 women and 23 men ranging in age from 28 to 95. Eight were in their 90s, 11 in their 80s, eight in their 70s, six in their 60s, four in their 50s, and one in her 20s. Of the total, 19 lived in long-term care centers.
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The 28 year old was the county’s youngest COVID-19 victim.
The county said in a statement that November was the third deadliest month of the pandemic in Bucks County. April had 280 COVID-19 deaths and May had 253.
Last week, the county had 3,227 new COVID-19 cases, breaking previous records.
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Compared to the same period in October, the county has seen a 1,315 percent increase in COVID-19 cases.
The state health department reported that Bucks County had a 15.3 percent test positivity rate for the week, which was higher than the statewide rate of 14.4 percent and much above the 5 percent positivity rate that is considered concerning.
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With county health department contact tracers overwhelmed by the number of new cases, they have been focusing on COVID-19 cases among older residents, vulnerable populations, and schools. In a statement, they reported 88 new cases among residents and staff of long-term care facilities and a total of 232 students and 31 school staff tested positive for COVID-19.
“Most of the infected students are taking all or some of their classes virtually, while 18 percent are confirmed to be full-time in-class students,” a statement said.
As of Monday night, there were 75 Bucks Countians with COVID-19 in hospitals, 18 of them in intensive care, and eight on ventilators.
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Since the pandemic began, Bucks County has seen 19,988 COVID-19 cases and 719 deaths.
Ways residents can help reduce the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Wear a mask properly when in a business or where it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing.
- Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
- Clean surfaces frequently.
- Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
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