Several Central and Northern Pennsylvania counties are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, including in Warren County, where the case rise is affecting the county prison and the school district.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported 630 new cases in Warren County so far in October. That’s more than three times the total in August. As of Tuesday, Warren County had the third highest new case rate per capita among 67 counties.
The state opened a free testing site at Warren General Hospital at the beginning of this month. The positivity rate as of last week was nearly 24%, according to the state department of health.
The increasing number of cases has kept many students quarantined and out of school in the Warren County School District.
The Warren Times Observer newspaper reported last week that 60% of roughly 100 inmates at the Warren County Prison had tested positive for COVID-19. But officials said cases were not severe and they expect normal operation by Thanksgiving.
Cameron and Elk Counties ranked first and second respectively on Tuesday in new case rates per capita in Pennsylvania. Both counties have just above 60% vaccination rates among eligible populations. Warren is at 50%.
