COVID-19 cases and tests, over time. Source: PA Department of Health
New COVID-19 cases continued a steady climb in PA over the past week, and new diagnoses over just the past 24 hours reached their highest level since the pandemic began.
Since last Friday, the commonwealth recorded an average of 1,641 newly diagnosed cases per day, according to the state Department of Health.
This compares to an average of 1,397 new daily cases last week, and 1,146, 1,011 and 788 new daily cases per day for the prior three weeks, respectively. 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: 1,062 cases (prior Friday, 971)
- Cumberland County: 2,391 cases (prior Friday, 2,195)
- Dauphin County: 4,556 cases (prior Friday, 4,340)
- Franklin County: 2,081 cases (prior Friday, 1,975)
- Lancaster County: 9,205 cases (prior Friday, 8,812)
- Lebanon County: 2,760 cases (prior Friday, 2,495)
- Perry County: 347 cases (prior Friday, 300)
- York County: 6,137 cases (prior Friday, 5,708)
Recently, counties that host major college campuses have seen their case numbers rise. The department this week reported substantial increases in Philadelphia, Allegheny and Luzerne counties.
Today, the department reported 2,219 newly positive cases throughout Pennsylvania for the past 24 hours ending at midnight. This is the largest one-day new case count so far, surpassing a spike during the first week of April of around 2,000 daily new cases.
With today’s update, 190,579 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 11,493 over the past week, according to the health department.
The department also reported an additional 168 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 8,625 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March. Fatalities totaled 149, 129 and 98 over the prior three weeks, respectively.
Around central PA, COVID-19 fatalities now stand as follows:
- Adams County: 27 deaths (prior Friday, 27)
- Cumberland County: 78 deaths (prior Friday, 78)
- Dauphin County: 192 deaths (prior Friday, 185)
- Franklin County: 54 deaths (prior Friday, 53)
- Lancaster County: 472 deaths (prior Friday, 467)
- Lebanon County: 66 deaths (prior Friday, 65)
- Perry County: 6 deaths (prior Friday, 6)
- York County: 199 deaths (prior Friday, 176)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 36,938 cases. Allegheny County ranks second with 14,687 cases, and Montgomery County is third statewide with 13,428 cases.
PA nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 5,699, or 66.1 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 25,122 resident cases of COVID-19, and 5,455 cases among employees, for a total of 30,577 at 1,039 distinct facilities in 62 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, about 11,906 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 2,391,447 individuals have had coronavirus tests, with 2,200,868 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Last Friday, the state reported that 2,282,130 people had been tested for the virus.
The state reports a total of 3,756,101 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
- Nearly 2 percent are aged 5-12
- About 5 percent are aged 13-18
- Nearly 14 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 36 percent are aged 25-49
- About 21 percent are aged 50-64
- Nearly 21 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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