The month of May ended with a seven-day average of 23 new cases being reported per day in Bucks County. That is the lowest level in the county since August 28, and represents an 87 percent decrease over the past month.
The last three days of the month -- Saturday, Sunday and Monday -- the state reported only 16, 13 and seven new infections, respectively. Monday's total was the fewest in one day since March 2020, the outset of the pandemic.
The number of COVID-positive patients in Bucks County hospitals also continues to plummet, with 20 currently hospitalized. That is 75 lower than a month ago. Two of those patients are on ventilators.
"Over the last three days, we saw the fewest cases we've seen since the month the pandemic started," said Bucks County Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker. "It's been a long 16 months and we're ready to enjoy the summer without any restrictions. Let's finish off COVID as much as we can; please get vaccinated, if you haven't."
A total of 34 COVID deaths were reported in Bucks County last month, the lowest one-month total since October. The pandemic death toll in the county now stands at 1,301.
The improving local news coincided with Gov. Tom Wolf’s reminder that all businesses, events and other venues can return to 100 capacity with his lifting of mitigation orders on Monday.
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated persons are still ordered to wear masks until June 28 or when 70 percent of adult Pennsylvanians have been fully vaccinated, whichever comes first. Masks are still required on public transportation, in airports and other transportation hubs, and businesses, workplaces, healthcare facilities and prisons may still impose their own masking requirements.
“We have made great strides throughout the commonwealth to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Wolf said. “As we lift mitigation orders, it is important for eligible Pennsylvanians to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting vaccinated is our best defense against this virus and ensuring individuals and their loved ones remain safe as we reopen Pennsylvania.”
Almost 10.6 million doses of vaccine have been administered in Pennsylvania, with more than 54 percent of the adult population now fully vaccinated.
In Bucks County, more than 553,000 total doses have been administered, enough to fully vaccinate 244,654 people and partially vaccinate 86,230 more. The county’s test positivity rate dropped last week to 2.5 percent, about half the rate considered to be concerning by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Bucks County on Saturday closed its mass vaccination site at the Bristol campus of Bucks County Community College. Sites at the Perkasie and Newtown community college campuses, at Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem and at Warwick Square shopping center in Jamison remain open, operating from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
All of the sites are available without appointments required, and are offering both the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the two-dose Pfizer vaccine.
To see an interactive map showing Bucks County’s COVID testing locations, please click here.
To see an interactive map showing Bucks County cases reported in the past 30 days, please click here.
Statistics, charts, links to state health department data and other coronavirus-related information can be found on the county’s data portal: https://covid19-bucksgis.hub.arcgis.com.
