Jeanne Franklin, Director of the Chester County Health Department, has welcomed the news that the FDA has expanded the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine to include 12- to 15-year-olds.

“The COVID-19 vaccine continues to prove itself as the greatest weapon that we have in fighting this virus,” said Franklin.

The number of new COVID-19 cases has continued to decrease in Chester County, further reducing the gap between where the virus is spreading the most and least, write Sean Adams and Megan Lavey-Heaton for the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

The latest numbers compiled by the Pennsylvania Department of Health highlight the rates of COVID-19 infection in each ZIP Code statewide for the seven days ending May 12, compared with the infection rates for the seven days prior.

The highest increase of cases in Chester County during that period was just two percent. This was recorded in ZIP Codes 19362 (Nottingham), 19365 (Parkesburg), 19344 (Honey Brook), 19465 (Saint Peters), and 19520 (Elverson).

A growing number of ZIP Codes are recording little to no increase in cases. These include 19352 (Lincoln University), 19311 (Avondale), 19310 (Atglen), and 19301 (Paoli) all at zero percent.

Read more about COVID-19 in Chester County in the Harrisburg Patriot-News.