Bucks Co. Coronavirus Data: Numbers Remain Low As Schools Reopen

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The number of new coronavirus infections in Bucks County remained low last week with no significant "secondary spread" in schools as they began to reopen.

But, health officials said, nearly half of all those new cases were spread by family members, roommates and friends living under the same roof. That prompted them to urge Bucks County residents to be more careful around those closest to them, saying that doing so could lead to a knockout blow locally.

"We are seeing more and more of our cases coming directly from friends and family members, especially at parties and social gatherings," said Bucks County Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker. "Community spread is going down, which means if we can tighten up our actions when we’re around the people we know, we can really drop the number in Bucks County."

Damsker said some Bucks County schools saw a few COVID-19 cases as students who got sick elsewhere returned for classes or orientations.

"But we have yet to see any secondary spread from those cases within schools because of the protocols in place," Damsker said. "Nothing will be 100 percent effective all of the time, but the guidelines have worked very well thus far, and we anticipate they will continue to do so if followed appropriately."

Last week, Bucks County's number of new cases dipped to 228, an average of about 33 new cases per day. That's down from 241 new cases the previous week.

Sadly, there were five new deaths from the virus in Bucks from Sept. 27-Oct. 3. None of them were residents of nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.

They were three women, ages 62, 71 and 93, and two men, ages 27 and 74. Four of the five had underlying health conditions and the 27-year-old's condition was described as "severe."

A total of 10 COVID-related deaths were reported in Bucks County in September.

Hospitalizations remained low last week, with 12 Bucks County residents hospitalized with the virus as of Monday. For the first time since March, no patients were listed in critical condition or on ventilators last week.

The more than 45 percent of the county's new infections from household contact made for the highest percentage since the coronavirus pandemic began. Pure community spread accounted for just 14 percent of the cases.

Of the 228 cases reported in Bucks County last week:

• 103 were traced to household contacts
• 32 were attributed to community spread
• 14 were from out-of-state travel
• 12 were from non-healthcare workplaces
• 11 were residents or workers at long-term care facilities
• 8 were healthcare workers
• 26 were delayed reports of cases no longer considered infectious
• 48 people were unable to be reached for a full interview

Through Saturday, Bucks County has had 8,457 residents test positive for the coronavirus during the pandemic. A total of 530 deaths have been attributed to the virus, including 413 long-term care residents. Another 7,561 people are confirmed to have recovered.

The median age of those who have been infected in Bucks County is 50, while the median age of those who have died is 84.