NEWS

Newly reported COVID-19 cases shooting up, but hospitalizations, deaths remain low

Staff Report
The Herald-Mail

While the number of new COVID-19 cases in the Tri-State region has been generally trending upward, the number of hospitalizations and deaths tied to the disease seems to be relatively low.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which monitors the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths for counties across the United States, reports that the community transmission level of the virus that causes COVID-19 is low in most Tri-State area counties.

That means that, per 100,000 people over seven days, there are fewer than 200 newly reported cases, fewer than 10 hospital admissions, and fewer than 10 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

A sign marks the entrance for the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Robinwood Professional Center.

Health leaders in the region say they have noticed the trend, and believe it's attributed to a few factors, including the success of vaccinations.

"The numbers indicate that while the current variant is contagious, it is not as severe as other variants that have hit our community," said Carrie Adams, chief operating officer for Meritus Health near Hagerstown.

But local health leaders also say they are worried the public might start to drop its guard, thinking the country is in the endemic stage of the virus.

That's not the case, said Dr. Raghav Tirpupathi, medical director of infection prevention at WellSpan Chambersburg and WellSpan Waynesboro hospitals.

"The term 'endemic' has been used in a lax fashion," he wrote in an email to The Herald-Mail. "Endemic state does not mean stable state, as it can still cause periodic surges and disruptions to daily life.

"The last thing we want is the public letting down (its) guard against this nasty disease. Masking in high risk situations, vaccination, early testing and treatment should continue to be cornerstones of prevention."

Adams agreed.

"This continues to reinforce the need for vaccination," she wrote in an email provided by Meritus' communications office. "Vaccines remain the answer to controlling this virus, and to continue to push us away from a pandemic phase and into the endemic phase. And the country has not yet reached the endemic stage with COVID-19."

As of Monday, there were five COVID-19 patients in Meritus, Adams said. At one point in January, the hospital had nearly 100 patients with COVID occupying hospital beds per day.

In Franklin County, there were six COVID patients hospitalized as of Friday, the most recent day for which data was available, according to the CDC.

More on COVID:Meritus closes drive-thru COVID testing operation north of Hagerstown

What are the numbers?

The number of new COVID cases in Washington County increased more than 14% from Sunday to the week previous, a USA Today Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows.

Washington County reported 95 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 83 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic, it has tallied 35,428 cases and 586 deaths.

In Franklin County, Pa., the number of newly reported cases jumped 240%, according to the data. In neighboring Fulton County, the number of new cases doubled.

Franklin County reported 136 cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 40 cases and zero deaths. Fulton County reported 12 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported six cases and zero deaths.

Throughout the pandemic, Franklin County has reported 40,694 cases and 695 deaths, and Fulton County has reported 4,153 cases and 65 deaths.

In the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Berkeley County saw a nearly 72% increase in newly reported cases. Jefferson County saw more than 60%, but Morgan County held steady with the same number of new cases as the week prior.

Berkeley County reported 211 cases and two deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 123 cases and one death.

Jefferson County reported 125 cases and one death in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 78 cases and zero deaths.

Morgan County reported 12 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 12 cases and zero deaths.

Throughout the pandemic, Berkeley has reported 36,247 cases and 295 deaths; Jefferson has reported 14,513 cases and 132 deaths; and Morgan has reported 4,307 cases and 69 deaths.

More on the pandemic:During the COVID-19 pandemic, this Maryland hospital chaplain lost hope

What's the area's vaccination status?

The percentage of people age 5 and older in Washington County who are considered fully vaccinated — those who have have had at least the first two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or one dose of Johnson and Johnson's Janssen vaccine — is almost 64% as of Monday, according to the CDC.

For boosters, the CDC reports more than 52% of the county's population over age 12 have received at least one booster shot. It didn't have statistics for those who have received a second booster.

Meanwhile, nearly 81% of Maryland's population over age 5 is fully vaccinated, and almost 54% have received one booster shot.

In Pennsylvania, almost 53% of Franklin County's population over age 5 is fully vaccinated, and almost 47% has had a booster, according to the CDC. More than 38% of Fulton County's eligible population is vaccinated, and more than 45% of those eligible over 12 have received a booster. 

Almost 73% of the eligible population in the Keystone State is fully vaccinated, and almost 45% has received a booster.

In West Virginia, almost 59% of Berkeley County's population over age 5 is fully vaccinated, and 38% have received one booster, according to the CDC. Jefferson County is at more than 67% fully vaccinated and more than 44% boosted. Morgan is at more than 42% vaccinated and more than 38% boosted.

Almost 61% of the Mountain State is fully vaccinated, and 47% is boosted.

Herald-Mail news director Joseph Deinlein and USA Today Network reporter Mike Stucka contributed to this story.