As Pandemic Loosens Grip, Here's How Chesco Towns Have Fared

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Municipalities across Chester County have varied in how hard-hit they've been by the coronavirus pandemic. Amid metrics that have eased up in the past month and a half, and as many in the county await vaccines, here is an overview of where COVID-19 hit hardest in Chesco.

According to the Chester County Health Department's COVID-19 Dashboard, just under 30,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 here: There have been 29,387 positive tests and 186,903 negatives test results. Across Pennsylvania, 967,598 cases of COVID-19 are reported.

As of March 14, 735 people died of COVID-19 in Chester County. Statewide, 24,587 people have died from the disease, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Philadelphia County lost 3,208 people, in Allegheny County 1,769 were lost to COVID-19, in Montgomery County 1,581 died, and in Delaware County 1,262 died, and 1,155 died in Bucks County. These highly populated counties saw the highest death counts in Pennsylvania.

Here is a list of municipalities who've had the highest percentage of their populations with COVID-19, followed by a list of municipalities who've suffered the most deaths. The two figures are not always aligned, as many factors are at play in any area's metrics, like age of the population, overall health of community members, or population density.

Municipalities with the highest percentage of their populations testing positive for COVID-19, at 7 percent or higher:

• Kennett Square Borough: 9.35 percent
• Avondale Borough: 9.25 percent
• London Grove Township: 8.23 percent
• Atglen Borough: 8.13 percent
• Oxford Borough: 7.89 percent
• City of Coatesville: 7.42 percent
• Penn Township: 7.11 percent
• Valley Township: 7.09 percent

Municipalities worst-hit by COVID-19 deaths, listing those with double-digit counts:

• East Goshen Township: 62 deaths, 5.8 percent of population testing positive.
• Willistown Township: 57 deaths, 5.3 percent of population testing positive.
• West Chester Borough: 35 deaths, 6.15 percent of population testing positive.
• Honey Brook Township: 35 deaths, 5.82 percent of population testing positive.
• Caln Township: 32 deaths, 6.75 percent of population testing positive.
• East Bradford Township: 32 deaths, 5.35 percent of population testing positive.
• Tredyffrin Township: 32 deaths, 4.01 percent of population testing positive.
• Oxford Borough: 30 deaths, 7.89 percent of population testing positive.
• Phoenixville Borough: 29 deaths, 5.3 percent of population testing positive.
• West Brandywine Township: 23 deaths, 5.69 percent of population testing positive.
• West Goshen Township: 22 deaths, 5.83 percent of population testing positive.
• Valley Township: 20 deaths, 7.09 percent of population testing positive.
• East Caln Township: 20 deaths, 5.46 percent of population testing positive.
• East Pikeland Township: 17 deaths, 5.55 percent of population testing positive.
• City of Coatesville: 15 deaths, 7.42 percent of population testing positive.
• West Whiteland Township: 13 deaths, percent of population testing positive.
• London Grove Township: 11 deaths, 8.23 percent of population testing positive.
• Uwchlan Township: 12 deaths, 4 percent of population testing positive.
• Westtown Township: 11 deaths, 5.9 percent of population testing positive.

Municipalities not listed had deaths in single-digits and the percentage of their population with COVID-19 was below 7 percent. The Chester County Health Department Dashboard can be viewed here.

Chester County has seen COVID-19 measures improve overall for more than a month now, and this week's report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health shows the trend continuing.
The COVID-19 new case count was down by 81, with 371 new COVID-19 cases reported in the week ending March 11, down from 452 reported cases in the prior week.

The incidence rate per 100,000 residence dropped across Chester County from 86.1 last week to 70.7 in the week ended March 11, according to the state Department of Health's March 12 updated report.

The percent positivity rate for COVID-19 cases in Chester County was down again this week. Last week it had dropped below 5 percent, measuring at 4.7 percent on March 5. In today's update, the DOH said the county's positivity rate is 4.3 percent.

Average daily hospitalizations fell by 10 over the last week, from 56 to 46, the DOH reported today.

Chester County has shown steady improvement in COVID-19 metrics for well over a month now, and its schools will begin a return of students to four or five days a week of in-person instruction, based on the improving numbers, even as most districts have given parents and guardians the option of keeping their children at home in virtual school to the end of the school year.

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