Rates decline in older residents

By Steve Ferris

Eagle Staff Writer

The percentage of COVID-19 cases is rising in state residents up to 49 years of age and declining in older residents, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said Monday.

Although the number of new cases has fallen below 1,000 for the first time since the early days of the pandemic, the percentage of cases in people ages 25 to 49 has increased from 37.5% in January to 38.1% to date in May; from 10.5% to 11.2% in 19- to 24-year-olds; from 6.3% to 11.1% in 13- to 18-year-olds; from 4% to 8.4% in 5- to 12-year-olds; and from 1.7% to 3.4% in children up to 4 years old.

The percentage of cases among residents 50 to 64 years old has declined in the same time period from 22.4% to 18.3% and from 17.7% to 9.5% in residents ages 65 and older, according to the department.

The number of new cases in the state decreased from 1,658 on Saturday to 856 on Sunday and 693 on Monday, increasing the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 1,196,562.

In the county, 31 new cases were reported over the weekend, raising the total number since the pandemic began to 11,084.

Butler Memorial Hospital is treating 10 COVID-19 patients, including two in the intensive care unit. Statewide, 1,261 people are hospitalized, including 293 in the intensive care.

The 14-day average number of people hospitalized per day is decreasing after peaking at 2,661 patients, which is slightly below what it was at the height of the spring 2020 peak of 2,751 patients.

One new death in the county brings the total to 414, and 53 new deaths over the weekend across the state bring the statewide total to 27,043.

The latest vaccination report said 79,319 people in the county are fully vaccinated and 14,427 are partially vaccinated. Statewide, 4,488,578 people are fully vaccinated and 1,608,374 people are partially vaccinated. A total of 10,212,401 doses have been administered, including 6,096,952 first and single doses and 4,115,449 second doses.

Butler Health System said residents ages 12 and older can register or walk in to receive vaccinations at its vaccine clinics at the Clearview Mall and Clarion Hospital.

In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a national marketing and customer service firm gave Pennsylvania high marks for its response to the pandemic.

The CDC ranked the state fifth among the states for the total number of doses administered, and Sykes, a marketing and customer service firm, ranked the state fifth in overall response based on vaccine distribution, positivity rates, hospital admissions and other information. Sykes ranked Hawaii first, Maryland second, Washington third, Connecticut fourth, North Dakota sixth, Oregon seventh, Wisconsin eighth, Illinois ninth and New Mexico 10th.