The state Department of Health’s shaded map of positive COVID-19 cases
Positive COVID-19 cases continued to jump in Pennsylvania, as the Department of Health today reported 693 new cases.
This represents the largest number of new cases reported yet for any 24-hour period during the coronavirus pandemic.
The new cases bring the statewide total to 4,087 total positive cases, up from 3,394 cases yesterday.
Moreover, the health department today reported 11 additional deaths from the virus, bringing that total to 49 fatalities. Locally, two people from Lancaster County and one person from Cumberland County have died from the disease.
“The continued rise in cases combined with our increasing deaths from COVID-19 reflects the seriousness of this situation,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.
The virus has now spread to 59 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Locally, Dauphin County now has 36 confirmed cases, Cumberland County has 24 cases, Lancaster County has 97 cases, York County has 54 cases, Lebanon County has 27 cases, Adams County has eight cases and Perry County has one case.
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 1,007 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 540 cases.
Twenty-two counties remain under “stay at home” orders from the state, including Lancaster and York counties in central PA.
Statewide, 37,864 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 33,777 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 33,455 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
- Less than 1 percent are aged 5-12
- 1 percent are aged 13-18
- 10 percent are aged 19-24
- 41 percent are aged 25-49
- 28 percent are aged 50-64
- 19 percent are aged 65 or older
Most of the patients hospitalized, as well as most deaths, have occurred in patients 65 or older, the state said today. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.
“We need everyone to listen to the orders in place and to stay calm, stay home and stay safe,” Levine said. “We know that these prolonged mitigation effects have been difficult for everyone, but it is essential that everyone follows these orders and does not go out unless they absolutely must.”
In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police issued 18 warnings over the weekend for failure to comply with Gov. Tom Wolf’s order that “non life-sustaining” businesses shut their physical locations. The police have now issued 96 warnings since last Monday, but have not yet issued any citations.
The state Department of Corrections also announced today a statewide inmate quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the state announced the first positive case of coronavirus for an inmate housed at the State Correctional Institute, Phoenix, in Montgomery County.
Under the quarantine, inmates will be fed in their cells, and they will be afforded out-of-cell time for video visits, phone calls, access to the law library, as well as being provided with in-cell programming, according to the department. Also, all inmate movement will be controlled to conform to social distancing recommendations.
“We realize this is an inconvenience for staff and the inmates, but again, we are doing this to protect everyone’s wellbeing,” said department Secretary John Wetzel.
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.
