The state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in PA broke through 50,000 today, though new cases sank to their lowest point in over a month.
The state Department of Health today reported 825 newly diagnosed cases, bringing the total to 50,092 since the pandemic began in early March.
This represents the lowest number of new daily cases since March 31, when 756 new cases were registered.
Case numbers have tended to dip on Mondays, which health Secretary Rachel Levine has attributed to less frequency of reporting to the department over weekends.
For more than three weeks, new cases in PA have generally ranged from 1,000 to 1,500 each day. Overall, about 20 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 148 cases (yesterday, 145)
- Cumberland County: 375 cases (yesterday, 373)
- Dauphin County: 652 cases (yesterday, 634)
- Franklin County: 377 cases (yesterday, 351)
- Lancaster County: 1,991 cases (yesterday, 1,936)
- Lebanon County: 756 cases (yesterday, 735)
- Perry County: 34 cases (yesterday, 34)
- York County: 702 cases (yesterday, 679)
“As we prepare to move a number of counties from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said today.
On Friday, the state plans to move 24 counties in the northwest and north-central parts of the state from “red” to “yellow” categories, thereby loosening business restrictions and stay-at-home orders there.
The commonwealth also reported an additional 14 deaths from the disease for the 24 hours ending at midnight. Since the pandemic began, 2,458 Pennsylvanians have now died due to COVID-19, according to the department.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now is as follows:
- Adams County: 4 deaths (yesterday, 4)
- Cumberland County: 18 deaths (yesterday, 18)
- Dauphin County: 28 deaths (yesterday, 28)
- Franklin County: 8 deaths (yesterday, 8)
- Lancaster County: 113 deaths (yesterday, 112)
- Lebanon County: 10 deaths (yesterday, 10)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 11 deaths (yesterday, 11)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 13,316 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 4,645 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 424 and 382, respectively.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 1,646, or about 67 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 9,345 resident cases of COVID-19, and 1,224 cases among employees, for a total of 10,569 at 494 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, 3,084 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 245,590 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 195,498 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 240,641 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
- Nearly 38 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 27 percent are aged 50-64
- 27 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.
“We must continue to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, which includes our seniors, those with underlying health issues, our healthcare workers and our first responders,” Levine said. “I am proud of the work that Pennsylvanians have done so far, but we cannot stop now, we must continue to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from COVID-19.”
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
