An image from the state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.
After a week of reporting mostly lower case numbers, the PA Department of Health today said that the number of new COVID-19 cases has spiked again.
The department today said that 1,706 new positive cases had been reported as of midnight, bringing the state’s total to 29,441 since the pandemic began in early March.
This reverses a trend of mostly lower case numbers that the state had been reporting for nearly a week, ranging from about 1,150 to 1,250.
The department also reported 49 new coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the statewide total to 756 cases.
Locally, Lancaster County now has reported 35 deaths from the disease, two more than yesterday. As of midnight, deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: seven in Dauphin County, four in Cumberland and York counties, two in Lebanon County and one each in Perry and Adams counties.
The virus has spread to all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Locally, Dauphin County now has 311 confirmed cases, 24 more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 154 cases, 18 more than yesterday. Lancaster County has 1,030 cases, York County has 393 cases, Lebanon County has 424 cases, Adams County has 70 cases and Perry County has 18 cases.
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 8,138 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,684 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 136 and 97, respectively.
Statewide, 147,373 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 117,932 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 141,470 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
- 6 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 40 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 29 percent are aged 50-64
- 23 percent are aged 65 or older.
Source: PA Department of Health
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.
“We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families, our community,” said Secretary of Health Rachel Levine. “If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care 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.
