Fewer new COVID cases reported across Tri-State area
As the rate of new reported cases of COVID-19 decreases in the Tri-State area, reminders of the illness's surge continue to linger.
All counties in the region are reporting a decline in the number of new cases of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The figures were determined by a USA TODAY Network analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the figures aren't perfect because of at-home tests not being reported, as well as other delays in reporting, the numbers give an idea of where things stand with COVID-19 in the region.
For example, Washington County saw a drop of more than 41% in the week ending Sunday as compared to reports from the week before. Franklin County, Pa., saw its number of new positive cases fall nearly 50% over the same time.
However, the number of deaths has tended to track a few weeks behind the surge in cases. In the week ending Sunday, 40 deaths were attributed to COVID-19 in the Tri-State area.
The week prior, there were 45.
And the positivity rate — the rolling seven-day average of the number of positive cases reported out of the total number of tests administered — still remains high in all counties in the Tri-State, especially in Washington County when looking at the rate statewide.
Washington County had a positivity rate of 17.49% as of Monday, but Maryland had a rate of 6.12%, according to the state Department of Health website.
Looking at hospital data, Meritus Medical Center reported 44 COVID-19 patients out of 244 total patients at the hospital near Hagerstown, according to data provided Monday by hospital spokeswoman Joelle Butler.
At the surge's peak in January, the hospital had 99 patients admitted with COVID-19.
There were eight COVID-19 patients in the ICU as of Monday. Three of them were considered fully vaccinated, according to the hospital data. There were seven COVID patients on ventilators; two were vaccinated.
Get the jab: COVID vaccine and testing clinics in Washington County for the week of Feb. 7
Last week: Number of new COVID cases falling in region, but reminders of surge still linger
Where can I get a COVID test or vaccination?
The Washington County Health Department and Meritus Health have several COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled for this week and they continue to staff testing sites.
The county health department has scheduled the following vaccine clinics:
Tuesday Feb. 8:
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., ages 12 and older, Boonsboro American Legion, 710 N. Main St., Boonsboro
Wednesday, Feb. 9:
1 to 7 p.m., ages 12 and older, Washington County Health Department, 1302 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown
Thursday Feb. 10:
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., ages 12 and older, Keedysville Community Center, 40 Mount Vernon Drive, Keedysville
Friday, Feb. 11:
9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., ages 12 and older, Maugansville Ruritan, 18007 Maugans Ave., Hagerstown
For more information, visit washcohealth.org. Walk-ins are welcome or register to make an appointment by calling 240-313-3456.
Meritus Health has scheduled mobile clinics to provide vaccines and booster shots to ages 12 and older. According to Meritus' website, the schedule for this week is:
Wednesday, Feb. 9:
9 a.m. to noon, ages 12 and older, Meritus Family Medicine - Williamsport, 3 Byrkit Drive, Williamsport
Thursday, Feb. 10:
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., ages 12 and older, Dagmar Hotel/Crowne Plaza lobby, 50 Summit Ave., Hagerstown
Friday, Feb. 11:
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., ages 12 and older, AC&T Fairplay, 8650 Sharpsburg Pike, Fairplay
2 to 5 p.m., ages 12 and up, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Hagerstown - Antietam Room, 1718 Underpass Way, Hagerstown
Meritus also offers walk-up and by-appointment vaccinations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays in the Robinwood Professional Center atrium, 11110 Medical Campus Road. These appointments are for ages 12 and older.
To schedule an appointment, email COVID.vaccine@meritushealth.com.
Meritus is offering walk-in vaccine clinics for children 5 and older in the atrium from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, according to its website, meritushealth.com.
Meritus Health continues to offer a drive-thru testing clinic from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, according to its online testing information.
The clinic is held behind Meritus Medical Plaza at 13620 Crayton Blvd., north of Hagerstown. Use the Showalter Road exit from Interstate 81 and turn onto Crayton Boulevard, instead of using Maugans Avenue.
The health department has drive-thru and walk-up testing for COVID-19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. The testing site is on Hagerstown Housing Authority property at 36 W. Lee St. That is behind Potomac Towers, but access is from Lee Street.
What are the statistics for the Tri-State area?
Here's a look at the COVID-19 numbers for counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia:
Washington County
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 497
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 30: 848
Percent decrease: 41.4%
Positivity rate: 17.49%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 9
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 30: 12
The county has recorded 33,177 cases and 535 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Monday: 57.9%
Percent of Marylanders fully vaccinated as of Monday: 73%
Franklin County, Pa.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 767
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 30: 1,529
Percent decrease: 49.8%
Positivity rate: 23.44%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 18
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 30: 15
The county has recorded 39,167 cases and 635 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Monday: 47.9%
Percent of Pennsylvanians fully vaccinated as of Monday: 66.1%
Fulton County, Pa.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 77
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 30: 144
Percent decrease: 46.5%
Positivity rate: 25.22%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 2
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 30: 2
The county has recorded 3,937 cases and 60 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Monday: 35%
Percent of Pennsylvanians fully vaccinated as of Monday: 66.1%:
Berkeley County, W.Va.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 604
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 30: 952
Percent decrease: 36.6%
Positivity rate: 20.92%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 6
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 30: 12
The county has recorded 34,368 cases and 247 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Monday: 53.2%
Percent of West Virginians fully vaccinated as of Monday: 56.3%
Jefferson County, W.Va.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 267
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 30: 443
Percent decrease: 39.7%
Positivity rate: 22.29%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 4
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 30: 3
The county has recorded 13,711 cases and 117 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Monday: 61.6%
Percent of West Virginians fully vaccinated as of Monday: 56.3%
Morgan County, W.Va.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 100
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 30: 109
Percent decrease: 8.3%
Positivity rate: 21.4%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 1
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 30: 1
The county has recorded 4,075 cases and 59 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Monday: 39.7%
Percent of West Virginians fully vaccinated as of Monday: 56.3%
USA TODAY Network reporter Mike Stucka contributed to this story.
Joseph Deinlein is the news director at The Herald-Mail in Hagerstown, Md. Reach him at jdeinlein@herald-mail.com or on Twitter @JDeinleinHM.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Tri-State region sees decline in reported new COVID cases
