The PA Department of Health lab in Exton.
New cases of COVID-19 remained around 1,000 on Saturday, as the PA Department of Health also reported 72 additional fatalities from the disease.
The department today stated that there were 1,078 newly diagnosed cases, bringing the total to 55,316 cases since the pandemic began in early. Many of the new cases—320—are in residents of nursing homes.
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: 156 cases (yesterday, 154)
- Cumberland County: 425 cases (yesterday, 414)
- Dauphin County: 797 cases (yesterday, 764)
- Franklin County: 478 cases (yesterday, 452)
- Lancaster County: 2,185 cases (yesterday, 2,122)
- Lebanon County: 805 cases (yesterday, 797)
- Perry County: 34 cases (yesterday, 34)
- York County: 767 cases (yesterday, 753)
Newly diagnosed cases peaked in the state in early April at nearly 2,000 positive cases. For nearly a month, new daily cases have hovered around 1,000.
The health department today also reported an additional 72 COVID-19-related fatalities, meaning that 3,688 Pennsylvanians now have died from the disease in less than two months. The majority of new fatalities—60—were residents of nursing homes.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 5 deaths (yesterday, 5)
- Cumberland County: 33 deaths (yesterday, 31)
- Dauphin County: 36 deaths (yesterday, 37)
- Franklin County: 12 deaths (yesterday, 11)
- Lancaster County: 166 deaths (yesterday, 165)
- Lebanon County: 16 deaths (yesterday, 16)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 13 deaths (yesterday, 13)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 14,637 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 5,116 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 856 and 523, respectively.
“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.
Yesterday, the state moved 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. It plans to move another 13 counties in the southwest portion of the state into the yellow phase on Friday.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 2,518, or 68 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 11,239 resident cases of COVID-19, and 1,605 cases among employees, for a total of 12,844 at 530 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, 3,685 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 277,107 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 221,791 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 270,559 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
- 37 percent are aged 25-49
- 26 percent are aged 50-64
- Nearly 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. 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.
