An image from the PA Department of Health’s lab in Exton.
New COVID-19 cases in PA showed a significant drop today, as the state reported the lowest new-case count in more than a week.
The state Department of Health today said that 1,178 new positive cases were detected since yesterday, bringing the total number of positive cases in PA to 22,833.
Sunday’s new case data is significantly lower than in recent days, including 1,989 on Thursday and 1,751 on Friday. In fact, it’s the lowest count since April 1, when 962 new positive cases were reported.
The state also reported fewer fatalities, with 13 new deaths since yesterday, compared to 78 fatalities both Friday and Saturday.
Secretary of Health Rachel Levine has said previously that some daily data, especially on weekends, may vary due to the frequency of reporting to the department. Because today is a holiday, she did not answer questions on the latest update.
Locally, Lancaster County now has 24 COVID-19-related fatalities, one more than yesterday, and Dauphin County now has four deaths, also one more than yesterday. Deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: three in Cumberland and York counties and one each in Perry, Lebanon and Adams counties.
The virus has spread to all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Locally, Dauphin County now has 229 confirmed cases, 16 more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 110 cases, Lancaster County has 772 cases, York County has 307 cases, Lebanon County has 270 cases, Adams County has 48 cases and Perry County has 16 cases.
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 6,352 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,164 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 128 and 63, respectively.
Statewide, 124,890 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 102,057 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 120,153 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
- 1 percent are aged 5-12
- 2 percent are aged 13-18
- Nearly 9 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 49 percent are aged 25-49
- 29 percent are aged 50-64
- 22 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.
“If you must go out, please limit it to as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well,” Levine said, in a statement. “We need all Pennsylvanians to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and also our healthcare workers and frontline responders.”
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.
