Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

Commonwealth substantially increases COVID-19 fatalities following data revision

The state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.

Pennsylvania today significantly increased the number of deaths in the commonwealth attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary of Health Rachel Levine reported 276 more deaths due to the virus, most of which did not occur in the prior 24-hour period ending at midnight.

Instead, most of the newly reported fatalities occurred sometime over the past few weeks, their deaths re-categorized based upon being a “probable positive.” Much of the re-classification was based upon a “reconciliation” of data from several different systems, including state and county systems, Levine said.

“We have been working to reconcile our data with information from several different sources, including our NEDSS reporting system and our county and municipal health departments,” Levine said. “This is the cause of the increase in deaths we are reporting today. This work takes time and so the increase in deaths today reflects the culmination of that effort, which will continue moving forward. The majority of these deaths did not occur overnight.”

The revision brings the state’s fatality total to 1,112 deaths since the pandemic began in early March.

Many of the additional deaths were in counties that already had reported the most: the Philadelphia metro area and the northeast. Locally, only Lancaster County had a substantial revision upward, with 24 more fatalities reported.

Locally, the COVID-19 fatality data now is as follows:

  • Adams County: 1 death (unchanged)
  • Cumberland County: 4 deaths (unchanged)
  • Dauphin County: 9 deaths (unchanged)
  • Franklin County: 0 deaths
  • Lancaster County: 60 deaths (24 more than yesterday)
  • Lebanon County: 4 deaths (unchanged)
  • Perry County: 1 death (unchanged)
  • York County: 6 deaths (2 more than yesterday)

Otherwise, the state today reported 1,215 newly diagnosed cases of COVID-19, a significant drop from yesterday’s 1,628 new cases, bringing the state’s total to 32,284 positive cases.

Dauphin County now has 368 confirmed cases, 25 more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 182 cases, six more than yesterday. Lancaster County has 1,188 cases, York County has 481 cases, Lebanon County has 484 cases, Adams County has 80 cases, Franklin County has 111 cases and Perry County has 20 cases.

Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 8,764 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,913 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 240 and 164, respectively.

Statewide, 158,854 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 126,570 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 153,965 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:

  • Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
  • Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
  • Nearly 1 percent are aged 13-18
  • 6 percent are aged 19-24
  • 39 percent are aged 25-49
  • 28 percent are aged 50-64
  • Nearly 24 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.

Levine today also said that she is concerned about a planned anti-shutdown protest planned for Harrisburg tomorrow.

She said that people have a right to protest but hoped that protesters would stay in their cars. If they mingle in close groups, especially without protective equipment, they risk infecting others, she said.

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.

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

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