Credit: PA Internet News Service
The number of new COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths last week dropped from prior weeks. However, numbers still remain at near-record levels.
According to Pennsylvania Department of Health data, the county had 6,770 new cases last week. The number was a drop from the more than 9,840 infections the week prior. However, the number of new infections is likely an undercount as many at-home positive tests aren’t recorded in the official number.
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Despite the drop, the number of new cases are among the highest recorded throughout the pandemic.
The COVID-19 test positivity rate for Bucks County slightly rose to 32.7 percent last week. A test positivity rate higher than 5 percent means health experts consider the spread of COVID-19 uncontrolled.
There were 239 Bucks Countians in area hospitals with COVID-19 as of the start of this week. A total of 30 Bucks Countians with COVID-19 were in intensive care units and 18 on ventilators. The numbers were slightly down from last week, but they still surpassed numbers from any previous time during the pandemic.
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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.
The most recent numbers were not released, but data from earlier this month showed the vast majority of the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients in local hospitals were not vaccinated.
The county recorded 15 deaths of COVID-19 patients last week, a drop from 22 deaths the week prior, according to state data.
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Officials have urged residents to get vaccinated to prevent serious illness from COVID-19.
There were 89,888 people who were partially vaccinated and 378,692 who were fully vaccinated across Bucks County as of Tuesday, according to state data.
A total of 154,180 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 113,169 COVID-19 cases in Bucks County and 1,628 deaths.
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