After weeks of remaining steady while COVID-19 cases rose, the number of Bucks Countians hospitalized with the novel virus has more than doubled.
Last week, Bucks County had 620 new COVID-19 infections, according to Pennsylvania Department data. The number of new cases was an increase over the previous week and steep increase from the 46 cases reported in the first week of July.
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On Saturday alone, Bucks County had 138 new cases, the highest number of single-day cases since early May.
The COVID-19 test positivity rate in Bucks County increased from 4.2 percent to 4.5 percent. A test positivity rate lower than five percent for more than two weeks means health experts consider the spread controlled.
As cases have increased in recent weeks, hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients have remained steady. However, last week ended with 25 people in area hospitals with COVID-19, which more than doubled over the weeks before.
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By Tuesday, Bucks County had 28 people in hospitals with COVID-19 and eight of them in intensive care.
Two deaths of Bucks Countians from COVID-19 were reported last month.
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Officials have stated the majority of serious COVID-19 cases in the county are among people who are not vaccinated.
The county health department reported that there were at least 5,702 COVID-19 shots administered in Bucks County last week. The number was the most since late June.
Credit: PA Internet News Service
Approximately 65 percent of Bucks Countians have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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As of Monday, 39,256 Bucks Countians were partially vaccinated and 312,889 were fully vaccinated, according to state data.
The three approved COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective. For more information on how to get vaccinated, click here.
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With a third dose of COVID-19 vaccinations approved for some immunocompromised residents over the weekend, Bucks County has begun administering the first third doses using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The health department expects to start using the Moderna vaccine for third doses next week.
The county health department has said anyone with questions about a third dose can contact their doctor or their office at 215-345-3318.
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Since the pandemic began, there have been 63,107 COVID-19 cases in Bucks County and 1,338 deaths.
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