COVID-19 decline continues, with exceptions

Centre sees key indicators heading in wrong direction

As it has for several weeks in a row, Friday's update of the state's early warning dashboard shows the region's coronavirus outbreak ratcheting down, although all the numbers are still above the thresholds of concern.

Seven of the 10 key metrics for the region's six counties ticked down, compared with last week -- decreases that reflect numbers statewide.

The biggest decreases in the incidence rate -- the number of new cases per 100,000 residents during the past seven days -- were in Huntingdon and Clearfield counties, each down 44%.

That took Huntingdon County to 128 new cases per 100,000 residents and Clearfield to 147 cases -- both still well past the threshold of concern, which is 50.

The biggest decrease in test positivity rate was in Huntingdon County, down 4.4 points to 5.8%.

That, too, is above the threshold of concern, which is 5%.

Blair County's incidence rate is 172, down 27%.

It's positivity rate is 8.8%, down 0.9 points.

Centre County was the main exception, with both of its key metrics heading in the wrong direction.

Centre's incidence rate is 246, up 10%.

It's positivity rate is 8.9%, up 2.3 points.

Bedford County had mixed results, with its incidence rate, 119, down 11%, but its positivity rate, 13.2%, up 1.9 points.

Cambria County's incidence rate is 139, down 32%, and its positivity rate is 6.4%, down 2.1 points.

Clearfield's positivity rate is 6.9%, down 3.4 points.

The state's incidence rate is 203, down 16%.

It's positivity rate is 9.3%, down 1.2 points.

Long-term care

Long-term care facilities in the six counties have accounted for 555 deaths, 49% of the region's 1,232 COVID-19 fatalities, according to Department of Health statistics.

There have been 3,577 resident and 588 employee cases in 88 facilities.

Cambria County had the most deaths, 164, followed by Centre, with 153; Bedford with 100; Clearfield with 48, Huntingdon with 47 and Blair with 43.

Cambria also had the highest number of resident cases, 1,004, followed by Bedford with 916; Centre with 652; Clearfield with 447; Huntingdon with 292 and Blair with 266.

Bedford had the highest number of employee cases with 152; followed by Centre with 139; Cambria with 116; Clearfield with 112; Huntingdon with 40; and Blair with 29.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.