COVID-19 cases and tests, over time. Source: PA Department of Health
COVID-19 cases again reached new highs over the past week, with new diagnoses breaking several daily records.
Since last Friday, the commonwealth recorded an average of 2,633 newly diagnosed cases per day, according to the state Department of Health.
This compares to an average of 2,134 new daily cases last week, and 1,641, 1,397 and 1,146 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: 1,288 cases (prior Friday, 1,158)
- Cumberland County: 2,745 cases (prior Friday, 2,526)
- Dauphin County: 5,367 cases (prior Friday, 4,898)
- Franklin County: 2,546 cases (prior Friday, 2,269)
- Lancaster County: 10,562 cases (prior Friday, 9,764)
- Lebanon County: 3,503 cases (prior Friday, 3,132)
- Perry County: 408 cases (prior Friday, 370)
- York County: 7,072 cases (prior Friday, 6,630)
Today, the department reported a record high of 3,384 newly positive cases throughout Pennsylvania for the past 24 hours ending at midnight.
With today’s update, 223,950 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 18,433 over the past week, according to the health department. Active cases total 54,087 and, currently, 1,599 people are hospitalized in PA with coronavirus.
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 42,307 cases. Allegheny County ranks second with 16,838 cases, and Montgomery County is third statewide with 15,118 cases.
The department also reported an additional 191 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 8,975 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March. Fatalities totaled 159, 168, 149 and 129 over the prior four weeks, respectively.
Around central PA, COVID-19 fatalities now stand as follows:
- Adams County: 34 deaths (prior Friday, 28)
- Cumberland County: 82 deaths (prior Friday, 79)
- Dauphin County: 196 deaths (prior Friday, 196)
- Franklin County: 62 deaths (prior Friday, 55)
- Lancaster County: 488 deaths (prior Friday, 477)
- Lebanon County: 72 deaths (prior Friday, 67)
- Perry County: 7 deaths (prior Friday, 6)
- York County: 211 deaths (prior Friday, 205)
PA nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 5,903, or 65.7 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there have been 27,104 resident cases of COVID-19, and 5,810 cases among employees, for a total of 32,914 at 1,106 distinct facilities in 63 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, about 12,811 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 2,632,316 individuals have had coronavirus tests, with 2,408,366 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Last Friday, the state reported that 2,503,500 people had been tested for the virus.
The state reports a total of 4,309,357 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
- About 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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