New COVID-19 cases and deaths. Source: PA Health Department
COVID-19 fatalities surpassed 6,000 in Pennsylvania, though new cases continued a long-time downward slope.
The state Department of Health today reported an additional 61 deaths, meaning that 6,014 people have died from the disease since March.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 9 deaths
- Cumberland County: 58 deaths
- Dauphin County: 96 deaths
- Franklin County: 39 deaths
- Lancaster County: 320 deaths
- Lebanon County: 38 deaths
- Perry County: 3 deaths
- York County: 30 deaths
The state today also reported 493 new COVID-19 diagnoses, among the lowest new daily diagnoses since the disease began to surge in late March.
With the additional cases, 76,436 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
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.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 275 cases (yesterday, 275)
- Cumberland County: 683 cases (yesterday, 672)
- Dauphin County: 1,525 cases (yesterday, 1,499)
- Franklin County: 800 cases (yesterday, 798)
- Lancaster County: 3,554 cases (yesterday, 3,503)
- Lebanon County: 1,086 cases (yesterday, 1,072)
- Perry County: 68 cases (yesterday, 68)
- York County: 1,094 cases (yesterday, 1,086)
Overall, 14.2 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 19,388 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 7,672 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,436 and 734, 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.
Last week, the state moved the last of Pennsylvania’s “red” counties into the less restrictive yellow phase, including the entire Philadelphia metro area. On this coming Friday, three local counties—Cumberland, York and Adams—are slated to enter the “green” phase.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 4,117, or 68.4 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 16,247 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,824 cases among employees, for a total of 19,071 at 618 distinct facilities in 45 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, about 5,796 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 535,684 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 459,248 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 527,330 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.
