Rate of new COVID cases climb in Franklin, Fulton while cases fall in other Tri-State counties
The rates of new COVID-19 cases reported in the majority of Tri-State counties fell last week, but the numbers remained high in local Pennsylvania counties.
Also, the positivity rates for all the Tri-State counties remain at or near record levels, with Washington County in Maryland notching 34.97% as of Tuesday morning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And the deaths attributed to the virus over the past week, particularly in Washington County and Franklin County, Pennsylvania, were in the double digits. The Tri-State area had a total of 41 COVID-related deaths in the week ending Sunday.
There were 11 deaths in Washington County. Franklin County recorded 18. In the week ending Jan. 9, Washington County reported 18 deaths and Franklin County had 21.
Previously: New positive COVID cases fall in Washington County, but most of Tri-State sees surge
Trone positive: Md. congressman tests positive for COVID-19; urges everyone to get vaccinated
Hospital changes: Meritus Health implements crisis standard of care due to surge in COVID-19 cases
The data are assembled from a USA TODAY analysis of statistics maintained by Johns Hopkins University and the CDC. Many counties did not report data during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, disrupting the latest week's statistics.
In addition, the data are being compared to a week with backlogged cases and deaths from the New Year's holiday weekend. Week-to-week comparisons could be skewed and inexact, but they provide as good an estimation as possible of where the region stands.
Though it seems all numbers have been restored, the Maryland Department of Health was the victim of a ransomware attack Dec. 4 that affected the servers on which the data were stored.
What are the latest statistics from Meritus Medical Center?
As of Tuesday, the hospital east of Hagerstown had 275 patients, according to statistics provided by Meritus Health spokeswoman Joelle Butler. The hospital's capacity can be stretched to almost 330.
Of the patients Tuesday, 96 were hospitalized for COVID-19. Just over a week ago, there were 77. Out of all the COVID patients Tuesday, only 21 — almost 22% — were vaccinated.
There were 19 patients in the hospital's intensive care unit, and seven of them were COVID-19 patients. Only two of those seven were vaccinated.
There were 20 people on ventilators at the hospital Monday, three of them were COVID patients. None of the COVID patients on a ventilator was vaccinated.
The hospital also listed one pediatric COVID-19 case on Tuesday.
The average age of the COVID-19 patients at Meritus was 68 as of Tuesday. A little more than a week ago, the average age was 66.
Where should I go to get a COVID-19 test or vaccination?
The Washington County Health Department is running drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing clinics on Wednesday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hagerstown Housing Authority, 36 W. Lee St. in Hagerstown.
Meritus Health continues to offer a drive-thru testing clinic each weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clinic is behind Meritus Medical Plaza at 13620 Crayton Blvd. north of Hagerstown. Because of traffic congestion, use the Showalter Road exit from Interstate 81, then turn onto Crayton Boulevard, instead of using Maugans Avenue.
Aside from many pharmacies offering vaccinations, the county health department also offers clinics through the week:
Wednesday, Jan. 19: 1 to 7 p.m., Washington County Health Department, 1302 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown
Thursday, Jan. 20: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Clear Spring Town Hall, 146 Cumberland St., Clear Spring
Friday, Jan. 21: For those ages 5 to 11, noon to 2:30 p.m., Hancock Town Hall, 126 W. High St., Hancock
Friday, Jan. 21: For those ages 5 to 11, 4 to 5:30 p.m., Hancock Middle-Senior High School, 289 W. Main St., Hancock
Meritus also offers walk-up and by-appointment vaccinations Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Robinwood Professional Center atrium, 11110 Medical Campus Road, Hagerstown. To schedule an appointment, email COVID.vaccine@meritushealth.com.
What are the statistics for the Tri-State area?
Here's a look at the figures for the region, based on data from Johns Hopkins and the CDC analyzed by the USA TODAY Network:
Washington County
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 2,018
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 2,245
Percent decrease: 10.1%
Positivity rate: 34.97%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 11
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 18
The county has recorded 30,703 cases and 497 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 56.7%
Percent of Marylanders fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 71.6%
Level of community transmission: High
Franklin County, Pa.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 2,773
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 2,074
Percent increase: 33.7%
Positivity rate: 36.45%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 18
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 21
The county has recorded 34,980 cases and 589 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 47%
Percent of Pennsylvanians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 64.9%
Level of community transmission: High
Fulton County, Pa.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 211
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 153
Percent increase: 37.9%
Positivity rate: 28.44%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 4
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 2
The county has recorded 3,534 cases and 55 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 34.3%
Percent of Pennsylvanians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 64.9%
Level of community transmission: High
Berkeley County, W.Va.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 2,383
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 4,373
Percent decrease: 45.5%
Positivity rate: 36.3%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 3
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 4
The county has recorded 30,974 cases and 222 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 52.3%
Percent of West Virginians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 55.6%
Level of community transmission: High
Jefferson County, W.Va.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 1,239
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 1,800
Percent decrease: 31.2%
Positivity rate: 36.82%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: 5
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 3
The county has recorded 12,209 cases and 105 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 60.5%
Percent of West Virginians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 55.6%
Level of community transmission: High
Morgan County, W.Va.
New cases reported in the week that ended Sunday: 358
New cases reported during the week that ended Jan. 9: 393
Percent decrease: 8.9%
Positivity rate: 28.63%
Number of deaths reported in the past week: zero
Number of deaths in the week that ended Jan. 9: 4
The county has recorded 3,598 cases and 57 deaths during the pandemic.
Percent of county population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 39.4%
Percent of West Virginians fully vaccinated as of Tuesday: 55.6%
Level of community transmission: High
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: New COVID cases rise in PA Tri-State counties, fall elsewhere
