A screen shot of Dr. Rachel Levine (right) during her virtual press conference on Saturday
Positive COVID-19 cases now exceed 31,000 in Pennsylvania, as the state Department of Health today reported 1,628 newly diagnosed cases.
The new case total is a bit lower than yesterday, when 1,706 new positive cases were reported.
The department has now reported 31,069 positive COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early March.
The department also reported 80 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the statewide total to 836 fatalities. This is the highest number of daily deaths yet reported statewide due to COVID-19.
Locally, Dauphin and Lebanon counties both reported two more fatalities from the disease, bringing the countywide totals to nine and four deaths, respectively. Lancaster County has now reported 36 deaths from the disease, one more than yesterday.
Deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: four in Cumberland and York counties, one each in Perry and Adams counties and zero in Franklin County.
“COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Pennsylvania, and even though the daily increases are not exponential, now is not the time to become complacent,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine.
Locally, Dauphin County now has 343 confirmed cases, 32 more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 176 cases, 22 more than yesterday. Lancaster County has 1,113 cases, York County has 463 cases, Lebanon County has 458 cases, Adams County has 74 cases, Franklin County has 106 cases and Perry County has 20 cases.
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 8,502 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,781 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 136 and 106, respectively.
Statewide, 153,965 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 122,896 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 147,373 people had been tested for the virus.
Levine today said that state would open its third public, drive-through testing site on Monday at the Mohegan Sun Arena parking lot in Wilkes-Barre.
“This is a very important step as we continue to see a rise in cases throughout northeast Pennsylvania,” she said.
Testing will begin with first responders and healthcare workers who are showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 before expanding to other vulnerable populations, Levine said.
The state lab in Exton will process the tests, with results in two to three days. The site can test as many as 200 people a day and registration is required. Click here for more information.
The new testing site is the state’s third, joining sites in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties. Levine said that other locations in the state are under consideration for mass-testing sites.
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
- 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.
“We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families, our community,” Levine said. “If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”
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.
