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Positive cases continue to increase significantly for the county and in the last 14 days, Tioga County has seen 174 new cases of COVID-19 with 107 of those cases being reported in the last 7 days. With 138 cases already recorded in the first 10 days of November we are currently on pace for over 400 cases this month.

PCR positivity decreased slightly this week to 7.8 percent, but the county we still remaining significantly higher than the recommended 5 percent or below.

For the second week in a row, Tioga County remains classified as Substantial Transmission based on the number of positive cases per 100,000 residents which is presently 174. This represents a 37% increase over last week’s cases. Early projections have us remaining Substantial again next week.

For the 4th week in a row, Bradford and Chemung are the 2 counties in our region with the highest increases in positive COVID cases. In the past 7 days Bradford has seen 516 additional positive cases and 5 addition deaths and Chemung has seen 721 additional positive cases and 7 additional deaths.

Level of Community Transmission for Bradford County remains Substantial as it has for the past 5 weeks and Bradford County remains the highest of all 67 counties for cases per 100,000 residents. This week, Potter County and Lycoming County remained Moderate transmission and portions of Chemung County remain designated at as an Orange Zone.

As I’ve said for the past 2 weeks, the continued increase in cases Bradford and Chemung counties represent significant COVID activity; AND again, this week, the Task Force is recommending you limit your travel to these counties to what is absolutely necessary and if you need to travel to Bradford or Chemung counties, please exercise extreme caution.

Early numbers based on the first 10 days of the month have us on pace for over 400 COVID cases for the month of November and represents a very significant number of positive case. Positive COVID cases continue to increase at the state level and this week the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health issued a 3-phased Call to Action for all Pennsylvania residents to slow the spread of COVID-19.

First is stricter adherence to the mitigation efforts of Masking, Social Distancing and Limiting congregate activities. Secondly is protection of our vulnerable class and people with preexisting conditions as well as our frontline healthcare and other essential workers. And finally, make every effort to slow the spread by staying home if you’re sick, and promptly contacting your healthcare provider for further assistance.

You can also help by answering the phone if you are called by a state contract tracer and answering their questions openly and honestly. Contact tracing is key to identifying community spread and isolating those that were exposed to COVID.

Community and regional spread continues to increase at a pace that is very concerning to the Task Force and to our medical community. We need to change the direction our county is heading, especially as we enter into the holiday season. So please join the Task Force in answering the health secretaries call to action and do everything you can to protect yourselves, your family and our county.

Until next week, Stay Strong and Stay Safe.