The rate of new COVID-19 infections in Bucks County continues to rise, reaching a seven-day average of 50 cases per day by Saturday. This is the highest rate since the third week of May, as was the single-day total of 75 new cases that was reported on Friday.
However, the spike in new cases has not affected the continuing decline in COVID deaths in Bucks. Six deaths were reported in July – the lowest one-month total since the beginning of the pandemic – and none since July 15. That compares with more than 200 deaths reported in Bucks in January and February, when the vaccination effort was just beginning.
COVID hospitalizations also remain low. For the past two months, the number of COVID patients in Bucks hospitals has seldom exceeded 10, the number hospitalized in the county as of Saturday. One of those patients was on a ventilator.
Additionally, the pace of COVID vaccinations in Bucks, which steadily declined for several weeks, is picking up again. A total of 4,822 residents received vaccination shots from July 25-31, an 18 percent increase from two weeks ago and the second consecutive week of rising vaccine demand.
About 63 percent of Bucks residents eligible for the COVID vaccine (ages 12 and up) have received at least one dose. Nationwide, the seven-day average of doses administered has risen 26 percent over the past three weeks.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 99.99 percent of people who were fully vaccinated have not had an infection resulting in hospitalization or death. A national analysis of available state data by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that more than 90 percent of COVID cases, and more than 95 percent of hospitalizations and deaths, have been among unvaccinated people.
Pennsylvania Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam and Acting Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson announced that the department is sending second dose reminder texts to individuals who got their first dose but missed their second appointment.
“We have been making great progress in the fight against COVID-19, as more than 5.7 million Pennsylvanians have stepped up to get fully vaccinated,” said Beam. “We want to remind everyone that getting the second dose is important to help protect against COVID and the delta variant. While the recommendation is to get the second dose within 42 days for best results, we know that schedules can be hectic and people miss appointments. The goal of these reminders is to make sure people know that it is never too late to get your second dose, and to help individuals make a new second dose appointment at a provider convenient to them. Even if you were one of the first people to get vaccinated back in December, if you missed your second dose, there is still time to get it.”
Bucks County continues to offer free vaccinations to anyone age 12 and over from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem and Warwick Square in Jamison. Click here for more information.
