New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have escalated the number of Pennsylvania counties that have substantial or higher levels of COVID-19 transmission. The CDC recommends people wear masks indoors in counties that either average 50 or more cases per 100,000 residents or have a test positivity rate equal to or greater than 8 percent.

There are 25 counties, including Philadelphia, Lebanon, Montgomery and Lancaster, that have shown the increased rates in COVID-19 community transmission. On Monday (when we published a NEWSpirit Alert) CDC data reflecting through July 31 showed just nine counties with substantial transmission.) 

The increase in transmission matches data from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health. The state recorded more than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases between Friday and Sunday, with a subsequent increase of COVID patients hospitalized and in intensive care. The state reported more than 1,400 additional cases on Tuesday.

The CDC determines the transmission rate by studying new cases per 100,000 people and the positivity rate of new tests, both over the past seven days. Counties with substantial transmission have between 50-99 new cases per week, those with high transmission have more than 100.

As for positivity rates, counties with substantial transmission have between an 8% to 9.99% positivity rate, while those with high transmission have a positivity rate higher than 10%.

See the case and vaccine breakdown for all counties from July 26 to August 1, provided by the CDC, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the city of Philadelphia.Due to the increase in the Delta variant amongst communities, Eastern PA Conference leadership asks that churches continue to monitor the case counts and positivity rates in their counties. Currently, Philadelphia has a “substantial” COVID transmission level and a mask recommendation by the CDC. We recommend churches comply with these guidelines. Learn more…