COVID numbers, hospitalizations up in region

Area residents are being urged to take steps for being safe against COVID-19 as Lycoming and Clinton counties remain at high positivity levels with new variants being reported nationally.

Barbara Hemmendinger, of Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition, stated that the county's positivity rate is "at a very high 18.56%."

That means one of five tests for COVID are positive.

However, she noted that just one of 10 positive tests are recorded since many are done at home.

Hospitalizations are also increasing, according to Dr. Rutul Dalal, medical director for Infectious Diseases, UPMC in North Central Pa.

"As of Friday, July 15, across the UPMC system in the U.S., we are treating 185 inpatients who are positive for COVID-19, 15 of whom are being treated at UPMC hospitals in north central Pennsylvania, which includes UPMC Williamsport, UPMC Muncy, UPMC Cole in Coudersport, UPMC Wellsboro and UPMC Lock Haven," he said.

Dalal reported that BA.5 has become the most predominant strain of COVID-19 and the most transmissible of the virus.

The sub-variant is in local communities and increasing which could further raise hospitalization levels for the virus.

"This pandemic is still here and not yet over," Dalal said. "It remains important that people know their risk and take steps to protect themselves. Vaccinations and boosters remain some of the best ways we can continue to fight the spread of COVID-19 in addition to the social mitigation efforts ­ social distancing and masking ­ we know help curb the spread."

Hemmendinger noted that too few people have received first or second booster shots for COVID.

"To counter this waning immunity and increased virus transmission, it is important that people mask indoors in public places, test when feeling ill or if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, and seek prompt antiviral treatment when a COVID-19 test is positive," she stated.

Those over 50 and younger people with medical problems are urged to receive a second booster shot four months after first boosters, she said.

Eligible people are encouraged to be boosted now rather than wait if updated vaccines are released later this year.