PA Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine (right) during Saturday’s virtual press briefing
More than 40,000 Pennsylvanians have now tested positive for COVID-19, as the state today announced nearly 1,400 newly diagnosed cases.
The state Department of Health reported 1,397 new positive cases as of midnight. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 40,049 since the pandemic began in early March in the commonwealth.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 113 cases (yesterday, 110)
- Cumberland County: 250 cases (yesterday, 240)
- Dauphin County: 492 cases (yesterday, 468)
- Franklin County: 181 cases (yesterday, 164)
- Lancaster County: 1,501 cases (yesterday, 1,451)
- Lebanon County: 592 cases (yesterday, 575)
- Perry County: 26 cases (yesterday, 25)
- York County: 578 cases (yesterday, 563)
Department Secretary Rachel Levine repeated today that the actual rate of infection is likely much higher than the reported rate, as the reported rate includes only confirmed positives revealed through testing.
“We know that there have been more cases of COVID-19 than we’ve been able to detect,” she said.
According to the health department, 45 more PA residents have died as of midnight, bringing the number of confirmed deaths from COVID-19 to 1,537 since the pandemic started.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now is as follows:
- Adams County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- Cumberland County: 8 deaths (yesterday, 8)
- Dauphin County: 18 deaths (yesterday, 19)
- Franklin County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- Lancaster County: 74 deaths (yesterday, 74)
- Lebanon County: 7 deaths (yesterday, 6)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 8 deaths (yesterday, 8)
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 10,893 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 3,627 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 272 and 214, respectively.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 942, 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 6,544 resident cases of COVID-19, and 782 cases among employees, for a total of 7,326 at 425 distinct facilities in 40 counties, according to the health department.
Statewide, 192,935 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 152,886 people testing negative, according to the department. Yesterday, the state reported that 186,143 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
- Nearly 26 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 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.
