Three more Bucks County residents died, the total count of confirmed COVID-19 cases reaching 713 with 80 new cases added on Monday Bucks County officials said.

While Bucks County’s cases have risen steadily, an increasing number of patients also are recovering. Approximately 110 people are confirmed to have recovered and have been removed from isolation officials said. 

Bucks County Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker said the large new of new cases was not indicative of a surge, but was the result of a private testing lab reporting multiple days of cases. 

We are definitely seeing a larger chunk of cases happening among healthcare providers,” Damsker said, along with others who have jobs requiring them to work in close proximity to fellow workers and members of the public.

“Everybody wants to talk about the surge,” Damsker said, but he said it has not been seen among the general population that has been self-isolating at home. “If we have a surge, it’s going to be in the healthcare providers, workers and residents in congregate settings, and the people who have to be out there working essential jobs that bring them into contact with a lot of people. However, given the new masking recommendations, we hope that will help reduce the risk of these outbreaks over the next two weeks.”

Monday’s reported deaths were among the elderly with underlying health issues, county officials said. 

36 county residents are hospitalized with 12 in critical condition on ventilators. 

Statewide the death toll stands at 162 with just under 13,000 cases confirmed, and slightly under 71,000 people testing negative.