Montco COVID Cases Skyrocket, Outbreak Traced To Ice Hockey Teams

NORRISTOWN, PA — New cases of coronavirus continue to skyrocket in Montgomery County amid the fall surge, and officials have traced one recent outbreak to a number of adult ice hockey teams.

The county's percent positivity rate, once among the lowest in all of Pennsylvania at 1.98 percent in early October, has now shot up to 4.39 percent. While still below the five percent threshold, which is considered "suppression," things continue to trend in the wrong direction. There were 817 new cases reported in the past week, a rise from 576 the week before that.

"Please take this increase in case numbers seriously," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said, adding that hospitalizations have also risen sharply. There are now 101 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county, an increase of 62 over the last two weeks.

Arkoosh noted that transmission is mostly occurring in smaller gatherings inside private homes. She said that colleges and businesses, including restaurants, have not been a source. Sports teams, however, have seen many cases, and she pointed to one recent outbreak among several adult ice hockey teams.

The outbreak began with three teams which play at the Hatfield Ice Arena and the Oaks Ice Center.

A total of 17 positive cases were found among players and coaches. Some of the coaches also spread the virus to five more junior teams which they coach, leading to a total of 73 quarantined individuals.

"A common thread is a lack of mask wearing and social distancing," Arkoosh said of the ice hockey teams. "Particularly on the bench."

On the rising hospitalizations, Arkoosh noted that she met with leaders from all hospitals across the county on Tuesday. None of them have "unmet needs" at this time. She asked resident to keep workers and their families in mind.

"This work is extremely labor intensive for all hospital workers, and does expose them and their families to some risk," she added.

There have been 33,063 residents tested over the past two weeks, an increase of 2,459 over the previous two weeks period.