Erie County has witnessed far too many COVID-19 deaths over the past year, but county health officials said measures taken locally have helped keep the death rate relatively low comparted to elsewhere in the state.
The county's COVID-19 death rate throughout the pandemic is 139.4 deaths per 100,000, which is the 12th lowest among Pennsylvania's 67 counties.
Diligent disease investigation and contact tracing have helped keep the death rate from going higher, said Charlotte Berringer, R.N., director of community health for the Erie County Department of Health.
"We know that the earlier the cases are identified, the earlier the cases can be contacted and instructed on what signs to look for," Berringer said. "If things deteriorate, seeking medical care earlier rather than later ... will lower the death rate."