COVID-19 cases and tests, over time. Source: PA Department of Health
COVID-19 infection rates surged over the past week in PA, with the average new case count exceeding 4,000 per day.
Since last Friday, the commonwealth recorded an average of 4,348 newly diagnosed cases per day, according to the state Department of Health.
This compares to an average of 2,633 new daily cases last week, and 2,134, 1,641 and 1,397 new cases per day for the prior three weeks, respectively. This week’s totals are the highest new-case counts in PA since the pandemic began in March.
The department also reports that testing has increased substantially over this time (see chart).
Locally, diagnosed cases are now as follows since the pandemic began:
- Adams County: 1,468 cases (prior Friday, 1,288)
- Cumberland County: 3,299 cases (prior Friday, 2,745)
- Dauphin County: 5,924 cases (prior Friday, 5,367)
- Franklin County: 2,996 cases (prior Friday, 2,546)
- Lancaster County: 11,712 cases (prior Friday, 10,562)
- Lebanon County: 3,957 cases (prior Friday, 3,503)
- Perry County: 473 cases (prior Friday, 408)
- York County: 7,869 cases (prior Friday, 7,072)
Today, the department reported 5,531 newly positive cases throughout Pennsylvania for the past 24 hours ending at midnight.
With today’s update, 254,387 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 30,437 over the past week, according to the health department. Active cases total 72,790. Currently, 2,196 people are hospitalized in PA with coronavirus, compared to 1,599 last Friday.
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 47,109 total cases. Allegheny County ranks second with 19,129 cases, and Montgomery County is third statewide with 16,773 cases.
The department also reported an additional 249 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 9,224 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March. Fatalities totaled 191, 159, 168 and 149 over the prior four weeks, respectively.
Around central PA, COVID-19 fatalities now stand as follows since the pandemic began:
- Adams County: 37 deaths (prior Friday, 34)
- Cumberland County: 86 deaths (prior Friday, 82)
- Dauphin County: 200 deaths (prior Friday, 196)
- Franklin County: 72 deaths (prior Friday, 62)
- Lancaster County: 495 deaths (prior Friday, 488)
- Lebanon County: 83 deaths (prior Friday, 72)
- Perry County: 8 deaths (prior Friday, 7)
- York County: 221 deaths (prior Friday, 211)
PA nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 6,052, or 65.6 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there have been 28,990 resident cases of COVID-19, and 6,028 cases among employees, for a total of 35,018 at 1,144 distinct facilities in 63 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, about 13,315 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 2,778,371 individuals have had coronavirus tests, with 2,523,984 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Last Friday, the state reported that 2,632,316 people had been tested for the virus.
The state reports a total of 4,647,108 PCR tests, which includes many people, such as health care workers, who have been tested more than once.
Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:
- About 1 percent are aged 0-4
- About 2 percent are aged 5-12
- About 5 percent are aged 13-18
- About 13 percent are aged 19-24
- About 36 percent are aged 25-49
- About 21 percent are aged 50-64
- About 20 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. However, the health department has emphasized that, increasingly, younger people are being diagnosed with COVID-19.
The health department 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.
- Wear a mask whenever out of your house.
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
Currently, we are providing a COVID-19 update weekly, each Friday, or as breaking news warrants.
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