COVID-19 cases remain steady in Erie County, though hospitalizations rise

Erie County's weekly number of COVID-19 cases has remained stable over the past three weeks, though the number of people in the county hospitalized with the viral illness has increased.

A total of 162 cases had been reported in the county each of the previous two weeks, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The week prior, Feb. 8-14, 142 cases were reported.

The numbers underline how steady the COVID-19 pandemic has been recently despite the emergence of yet another omicron subvariant, XBB.1.5. It's the subvariant of nearly 94% of all typed COVID-19 cases in this part of the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

More:Erie County residents still dying from COVID-19 despite drop in cases, hospitalizations

Erie County's COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen in recent weeks

While cases remain steady, COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased in the county.

The seven-day moving average of daily hospitalizations rose from 14.1 between Feb. 8-14 to 24.6 between Feb. 22-28, the State Health Department reported.

Local health officials cautioned that a majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations in recent months have been patients admitted for other reasons who subsequently test positive for COVID-19.

The county's seven-day moving average of COVID-19 patients on ventilators each day has increased during that time from zero to 1.1.

More:COVID-19 in 2022: How omicron changed the pandemic in Erie County

Erie wastewater samples show higher amounts of coronavirus

The amount of coronavirus found in samples taken from the Erie Wastewater Treatment Plant has risen in recent weeks, an indication the highly transmissible XBB.1.5 subvariant is circulating.

Samples taken in late February contained more virus than ones taken over the previous month.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce.