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There have been 22 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Warren County in the past two days.
Those new cases have not led to a surge at Warren General Hospital.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Wednesday data, there have been 2,709 total cases in the county, and 107 deaths. The number of deaths has not changed since Aug. 11.
There have been 48 new cases so far in August. The 22 in two days exceeds the totals for all of both June (20 cases) and July (18).
According to the department, there have been 10 COVID-positive patients at Warren General in the past week.
That was the largest number reported since January, when the reported numbers rose over 30.
None of the patients reported on Wednesday were on ventilators nor in intensive care, according to the department.
And, none of those patients were still hospitalized on Wednesday.
Warren General Hospital CEO Rick Allen said there were no COVID-positive patients at Warren General on Wednesday and that there had not been more than three in a day in some time. "We do not have any COVID-19 positive cases admitted," he said. "Over the past three months, we have had zero to three COVID-19 positive inpatients on any particular day."
"We have not yet experienced a 'surge' of COVID-19 positive patients in the ER or a significant increase in outpatients testing positive," Allen said. "We are aware that there has been staff testing positive for COVID-19 in area Long Term Care / Skilled Nursing facilities. This may account for the County's positivity rate increasing."
The positivity rate is up, but that is based on "very small numbers" at the moment, Allen said. "Of course we are also aware that end of summer vacation travel and events such as the Warren County Fair may increase the probability of local COVID virus spread. And of course WCSD classes will soon start. We are watching the situation very carefully and planning and preparing accordingly."
The hospital cannot test to determine which COVID strain a patient is suffering from.
When a patient tests positive at Warren General, samples are sent to the department and to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for testing. Those entities have the capability of testing for variants of COVID.
Warren County was in the moderate transmission category -- one of only five counties in the state at that level -- as of Wednesday.
Most of the state is in the substantial or high categories, with only Sullivan County in the low transmission category.
The number of county residents receiving vaccines continues to slowly climb. In the last week, about 140 people have received second doses, and about 175 have received first doses.
According to the department, 2,293 county residents were partially vaccinated and 14,205 were fully vaccinated as of Wednesday's data.
"Regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, we continue to strongly encourage all to be vaccinated," Allen said. "We are waiting to hear what the PA Department of Health and CDC will recommend or mandate… regarding a booster COVID-19 vaccination shot."
"In conclusion, although we are not currently experiencing a 'surge' in COVID -19 positive cases or hospitalizations in Warren County, we know that the virus will continue to spread," Allen said. "We recommend vaccinations and continued diligence regarding masking, distancing and hand washing."
"The Hospital will maintain its policy on required masking and screening and we will continue to encourage all staff to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus," he said.