Chesco COVID-19 Measures Improve In Week Ending Dec. 24

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — In Chester County there were 463 fewer new COVID-19 cases reported in the week of Dec. 18-24 than there were in the week before, and the incidence rate also dropped in Chesco.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health updated its information Dec. 25, reporting 1,444 new COVID-19 cases in Chester County for the week of Dec. 18-14. Between Dec. 11-17, Chester County saw 1,907 new cases, a drop of 463.

The downward turn showed up in the incidence rate measure also. The week of Dec. 11-17 the incidence rate in Chester County was reported at 365.3 per 100,000 residence. The week of Dec. 18-24 the incidence rate was 276.6 per 100,000 residents.

The percent positivity rate went down as well, from 11.6 to 11.1 percent from week to week, the health department reported on Dec. 25.

Average daily hospitalizations were down also in Chesco. Each day between Dec. 11-17, an average of 173.9 persons were hospitalized for COVID-19 in Chester County. The week of Dec. 18-24 saw that average down to 163.7 hospitalizations per day.

The average daily number of patients on ventilators went up from 11 to 12.6 in the week-to-week comparison.

Chester County has lost 490 persons to COVID-19, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Dec. 27 update.

Chester County hospitals began over a week ago vaccinating healthcare workers who work with COVID-19 patients. Vaccine distribution continues this week.

Chester County health officials said last week the department is planning to begin phase 1 of vaccinations by the end of this week. Initial Phase 1 groups include EMS providers, all types of healthcare personnel, the elderly, and persons with high-risk medical conditions, Chester County commissioners announced Wednesday afternoon.

Jeanne Casner, Director of the Chester County Health Department said, "Our goal is for everyone to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as enough quantities of the vaccine are available, and our plans will make this happen. Initial availability of the vaccine will be limited, and so will be distributed in a phased approach beginning as early as next week for some phase 1 individuals."

Chester County's vaccine information webpage can be found at www.chesco.org/coronavirus.

The vaccine webpage includes details of the currently approved vaccines, vaccine availability, safety, and potential side effects, as well as a full list of phase 1 groups. As more vaccines become available, the webpage will provide regularly updated information on vaccination groups, and vaccination schedules and locations.

Casner said, "The vaccine will be another tool in our fight against COVID-19, and we must continue to think of and care for others by wearing a mask, remaining six-feet apart, and washing our hands thoroughly and often.

Statewide, new cases also fell, from 58,134 to 47,813 in the most recent week. The statewide incident rate for COVID-19 also went down, from 453.9 per 100,000 residents in the week of Dec. 11-7, to 373.3 per 100,000 in the week of Dec. 18-24.