Bucks Co. Hospitalizations Low Despite Case Increases: Officials

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Bucks County averaged 44 daily cases of COVID-19 over the past three days, adding 131 additional cases to its total. However, 54 cases were delayed reports no longer considered infectious, according to the health department.

Also this week, officials confirmed the third death from the virus this month in Bucks County. A 61-year-old woman with a history of underlying health conditions died on Tuesday.

Hospitalizations remain low, according to Bucks County Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker.

In total, there are 19 people in Bucks County hospitalized for the coronavirus, with three of them in critical condition and on ventilators.

Of the 131 cases reported from Tuesday through today, 46 were infected by household contacts, 20 were infected while out of state, 19 were attributed to community spread, 13 are residents or employees of long-term care facilities, eight were infected at non-medical workplaces, four are healthcare workers and 21 were unable to be interviewed immediately.

The latest local developments come as officials warn of a regional increase in the virus among younger people, especially 19- to 24-year-olds.

In Southeast Pennsylvania, the 19 to 24 age group accounted for about 5 percent of all COVID-19 cases in April. But in July, that same age group accounts for almost 19 percent of all cases.

In Bucks County, the median age of infection is 53, while the median age of death is 82, according to officials.

“While the case trends have seen a modest shift to younger adults recently, along with that we continue to see milder courses of disease,” Damsker said. “It’s encouraging to realize that while our counts have risen slightly over the last month, the hospitalization rates have fallen.”

Bucks County now has had 6,456 residents test positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic. A total of 513 deaths have been attributed to the virus, including 410 long-term care residents. Of the total cases, 5,298 are confirmed to have recovered.