Bucks County broke several COVID-19 records last week.
Bucks County reported 9,843 new COVID-19 infections last week, a rise over 5,888 cases the prior week, according to Pennsylvania Department of Health data. The number is likely an undercount as many at-home positive tests aren’t recorded in the official number.
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A new single-day record of 2,384 new cases was reported last Thursday. Prior to the recent surge in cases, the previous record was 699 cases reported on a single day in December 2020.
The COVID-19 test positivity rate in the county jumped from 22.4 percent to 32.3 percent last week. A test positivity rate higher than 5 percent means health experts consider the spread of COVID-19 uncontrolled.
As the three authorized COVID-19 vaccinations have rolled out, a more important figure has become the number of hospitalizations and deaths of those with COVID-19.
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As of Tuesday, the county’s six hospitals reported 286 patients with COVID-19. There were 40 Bucks Countians with COVID-19 in intensive care units and 21 on ventilators.
Of the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients in the county, the vast majority – between 77 and 85 percent – were unvaccinated, county health department data showed. Data from across the nation mirrors local numbers.
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The number of people in local hospitals with COVID-19 blew past previous records set during the pandemic.
There were 22 deaths of COVID-19 patients in Bucks County last week, a rise over 10 the week before, according to state data.
With rising COVID-19 cases and deaths across the nation, county, state, and federal health officials have urged residents in recent weeks to get vaccinated and receive a third dose if they are eligible and have not yet done so.
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As of Tuesday, there were 87,253 people who were partially vaccinated and 375,851 who were fully vaccinated in Bucks County as of Tuesday, according to state data.
A total of 136,004 third doses have been administered in the county since third doses and booster shots were approved in mid-August.
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The three COVID-19 vaccines in use have been proven safe and effective. For more information on how to get vaccinated, click here.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 107,249 COVID-19 cases in Bucks County and 1,599 deaths.
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