Uptick In COVID-19 Cases In Montgomery County

NORRISTOWN, PA —Montgomery County commissioners announced today that there has been an upsurge in COVID-19 cases, advising the residents to wear masks in public and get vaccinated.

Christina Miller , administrator of the county office of public health, said the county has moved from the low COVID-19 level to the medium COVID level.

She said the level of cases over a seven-day period has increased to over 200 per population of 100,000.

The numbers only include cases reported to hospital and official testing sites, not at-home tests.

She said there has also been an increase in hospitalizations.

“In the past couple weeks, we have seen an increase in COVID cases,” Miller said. “We are not far from moving into high, which is a strain on our healthcare system.”

Miller noted that the omicron varient results in less hospitalizations.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for medium level:

• Talk to your healthcare provider and others about wearing masks and other precautions that are right for you.
• Stay up-to-date with vaccinations.
• Stay at home when sick.

Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, chairwoman, said that the public should not panic.

“We have an excellent set of tools to fight this virus,” she said. “Wearing a mask is a effective way of preventing COVID.”

Arkoosh said the federal government is offering free tests and she recommends staying up-to-date with getting vaccinated.

She said the vaccines do not prevent getting COVID, but they do reduce hospitalizations and death.