Percent Positivity Rate Nears 10 Percent Across Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA — The steady rise of coronavirus across Pennsylvania this fall has continued for another week, with officials again noting steep increases in several of the most important metrics used to determine the strength of the virus.

Of significant note is the percent positivity rate on all tests, an important measure which takes into account the increasing amount of testing being done statewide. That rate is now up to 9.6 percent, nearly double the 5 percent threshold for what is considered by health experts to be "concerning."

Spread is not confined to urban areas, officials said. Significant transmission is now occurring in nearly every county in Pennsylvania.

“This week’s data, in terms of case increase, percent positivity and other factors is concerning,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Monday. "We know COVID-19 does not discriminate. It is affecting all Pennsylvanians, no matter your race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status or whether you live a rural, suburban or urban area."

Percent positivity rate nears 10 percent

As recently as two weeks ago, the statewide percent positivity rate was 6.1 percent.

It rose to 6.9 percent a week ago, before leaping up to 9.6 on Monday.

“The significant increase in cases and percent positivity across much of the state is cause for concern,” Gov. Wolf added.

Cases increased by nearly 10,000 this week

There were 26,215 new cases of the virus in Pennsylvania over the past week, with several all-time records for the most cases in a single day of the pandemic.

The week before last saw 16,646 cases, meaning there was an increase of 9,569 in the last seven days.

Nearly all counties now considered "substantial" spreaders of COVID-19

A total of 59 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties are now considered "substantial" transmission risks.

This is the highest ranking, ahead of low or moderate, for the rate of community spread in a county.

Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. It often renders contact tracing difficult if not impossible.

The state Department of Health added 21 counties to the substantial category this week. Just a week ago, there were 38. The new additions are from every part of the state.

The current level of community spread by county

SUBSTANTIAL

• Adams
• Allegheny
• Armstrong
• Beaver
• Bedford
• Berks
• Blair
• Bradford
• Bucks
• Butler
• Cambria
• Carbon
• Centre
• Chester
• Clarion
• Clearfield
• Clinton
• Columbia
• Crawford
• Cumberland
• Dauphin
• Delaware
• Elk
• Erie
• Franklin
• Fulton
• Greene
• Huntingdon
• Indiana
• Jefferson
• Juniata
• Lackawanna
• Lancaster
• Lawrence
• Lebanon
• Lehigh
• Luzerne
• Lycoming
• McKean
• Mercer
• Mifflin
• Monroe
• Montgomery
• Montour
• Northampton
• Northumberland
• Perry
• Philadelphia
• Potter
• Schuylkill
• Snyder
• Somerset
• Tioga
• Union
• Venango
• Washington
• Westmoreland
• Wyoming
• York

MODERATE

• Fayette
• Pike
• Susquehanna
• Warren
• Wayne

LOW

• Cameron
• Forest
• Sullivan