Clinton County among State Counties with COVID “Concerning Positivity” Rate

RecordStaffNovember 16, 2020Last Updated: November 16, 2020

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Commissioners’ Monday virtual work session, from the left, Angela Harding, Jeff Snyder, Miles Kessinger

HARRISBURG, PA – Clinton County on Monday became one of 59 counties within the state with a concerning rate of substantial transmission spread of COVID-19.

Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine released a weekly status update detailing the state’s mitigation efforts; it showed a seven-day state case increase of 26,215, a statewide percent positivity of 9.6%, compared to 6.1% the previous week, and what the state called “a concerning 59 counties with substantial transmission status.”

Clinton County made the list for the first time with a positivity rate of 7.5 percent; Centre and Lycoming counties were both on the list with a figure of 8.4 percent. Health officials say when the positive rate goes over 5%, it is a sign of significant community spread.

“The significant increase in cases and percent positivity across much of the state is cause for concern,” Gov. Wolf said. “We need all Pennsylvanians to take a stand and answer the call to protect one another. We need Pennsylvanians to be united in wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing our hands and avoiding gatherings. It is only by working together that Pennsylvanians can prevent the spread of the virus.”

As of Thursday, November 12, the state has seen a seven-day case increase of 26,215 cases; the previous seven-day increase was 16,646 cases, indicating 9,569 more new cases across the state over the past week compared to the previous week.

The statewide percent-positivity went up to 9.6% from 6.8% last week. Every county in the state has a concerning percent positivity above five percent except the following counties: Forest (1.8%); Cameron (2.1%); Union (3.2%), Wayne (3.7%) and Susquehanna (4.6).

The Clinton County Commissioners noted the local numbers at their Monday work session. Angela Harding said the county’s community coalition task force will be meeting Wednesday morning. She said the number of cases is increasing at a greater clip than the initial spring on-slaught. Harding said the situation will “probably get a little worse before it gets better.”

Harding and fellow commissioner Jeff Snyder urged county residents to take the virus seriously, Snyder adding that he has a couple friends hit by the coronavirus and they told him it’s “not fun.”