Nearly 100 additional Pennsylvanians have died from the coronavirus pandemic, the state Department of Health reported today.
According to the department, 98 residents died in the 24-hour period ending at midnight, bringing the number of confirmed deaths from COVID-19 to 1,492 since the pandemic began.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now is as follows:
- Adams County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- Cumberland County: 8 deaths (yesterday, 7)
- Dauphin County: 19 deaths (yesterday, 16)
- Franklin County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- Lancaster County: 74 deaths (yesterday, 72)
- Lebanon County: 6 deaths (yesterday, 6)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 8 deaths (yesterday, 7)
Otherwise, newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases increased somewhat since yesterday.
The health department today reported 1,599 new positive cases compared to 1,369 yesterday. The new cases bring the statewide total to 38,652 positive cases since the pandemic began in Pennsylvania in early March.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 110 cases (yesterday, 95)
- Cumberland County: 240 cases (yesterday, 229)
- Dauphin County: 468 cases (yesterday, 445)
- Franklin County: 164 cases (yesterday, 151)
- Lancaster County: 1,451 cases (yesterday, 1,359)
- Lebanon County: 575 cases (yesterday, 544)
- Perry County: 25 cases (yesterday, 23)
- York County: 563 cases (yesterday, 546)
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 10,507 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 3,525 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 272 and 208, respectively.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 903, or about 61 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 6,153 resident cases of COVID-19, and 726 cases among employees, for a total of 6,879 at 418 distinct facilities in 40 counties, according to the health department.
Statewide, 186,143 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 147,491 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 179,114 people had been tested for the virus.
Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:
- Nearly 1 percent are aged 0-4
- Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
- 1 percent are aged 13-18
- Nearly 6 percent are aged 19-24
- 38 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 28 percent are aged 50-64
- 25 percent are aged 65 or older.
Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.
Secretary of Health Rachel Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
- Clean surfaces frequently.
- Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
“As we see the number of new COVID-19 cases continuously change across the state that does not mean we can stop practicing social distancing,” Levine said. “We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families and our community. If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but others. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
