An image from the PA Department of Health lab in Exton
New COVID-19 cases have again dipped below 500 in PA, concluding the week on a promising note.
The state Department of Health today reported 463 new cases for the 24-hour period ending at midnight. Except for Friday, every day this past week had fewer than 500 new cases in PA, a trend not seen since March.
Cases peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 daily new cases. Since then, cases have shown a gradual decline, despite increasingly greater testing levels for the virus.
With the additional cases, 78,462 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 289 cases (yesterday, 284)
- Cumberland County: 725 cases (yesterday, 709)
- Dauphin County: 1,606 cases (yesterday, 1,587)
- Franklin County: 843 cases (yesterday, 837)
- Lancaster County: 3,719 cases (yesterday, 3,682)
- Lebanon County: 1,162 cases (yesterday, 1,140)
- Perry County: 71 cases (yesterday, 70)
- York County: 1,157 cases (yesterday, 1,141)
Overall, 13.6 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
The department also reported an additional 49 deaths, meaning that 6,211 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 9 deaths (yesterday, 9)
- Cumberland County: 59 deaths (yesterday, 58)
- Dauphin County: 107 deaths (yesterday, 107)
- Franklin County: 42 deaths (yesterday, 42)
- Lancaster County: 329 deaths (yesterday, 325)
- Lebanon County: 39 deaths (yesterday, 39)
- Perry County: 5 deaths (yesterday, 5)
- York County: 31 deaths (yesterday, 31)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 19,856 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 7,865 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,502 and 763, respectively.
“With more than half of the state now in the green phase of the process to reopen, it is essential that we continue to take precautions to protect against COVID-19,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said. “The commonwealth’s careful, measured approach to reopening is working as we see case counts continue to decline even as many other states see increases. But the virus has not gone away.”
Yesterday, three local counties—Cumberland, York and Adams—entered the “green” phase of reopening, which means fewer restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Dauphin and Perry counties are slated to enter the green phase on Friday.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 4,268, or 68.7 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 16,546 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,920 cases among employees, for a total of 19,466 at 637 distinct facilities in 45 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, about 5,965 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 575,051 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 496,589 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 566,384 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
- Nearly 2 percent are aged 13-18
- 6 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
- 25 percent are aged 50-64
- 28 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.
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.
“Each of us has a responsibility to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently,” Levine said. “Together, we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.”
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
