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New COVID-19 cases dipped slightly in PA over past week; long-term trend remains intact

COVID cases and tests over time. Source: PA Department of Health

New COVID-19 cases declined slightly in PA over the past week, though the long-term trend remained relatively stable.

Since last Friday, Pennsylvania recorded an average of 788 newly diagnosed cases per day, according to the state Department of Health.

This compares to an average of 828 new daily cases last week, and 747 and 810 new daily cases per day for the prior two weeks, respectively. The department also reports that testing has generally increased over this time (see chart).

Locally, diagnosed cases over the past week are as follows:

  • Adams County: 822 cases (prior Friday, 766)
  • Cumberland County: 1,814 cases (prior Friday, 1,739)
  • Dauphin County: 3,767 cases (prior Friday, 3,662)
  • Franklin County: 1,757 cases (prior Friday, 1,701)
  • Lancaster County: 7,770 cases (prior Friday, 7,478)
  • Lebanon County: 2,001 cases (prior Friday, 1,909)
  • Perry County: 217 cases (prior Friday, 201)
  • York County: 4,752 cases (prior Friday, 4,391)

Recently, counties that host major college campuses have seen their case numbers rise.

“We know that congregation, especially in college and university settings, yields increased case counts,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said. “The mitigation efforts in place now are essential to flattening the curve and saving lives.”

Today, the department confirmed 806 newly positive cases throughout Pennsylvania for the past 24 hours ending at midnight.

With today’s update, 154,203 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 5,520 over the past week, according to the health department.

The department also reported an additional 147 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 8,081 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March.

Around central PA, COVID-19 fatalities now stand as follows:

  • Adams County: 26 deaths (prior Friday, 25)
  • Cumberland County: 77 deaths (prior Friday, 75)
  • Dauphin County: 180 deaths (prior Friday, 171)
  • Franklin County: 50 deaths (prior Friday, 49)
  • Lancaster County: 458 deaths (prior Friday, 451)
  • Lebanon County: 59 deaths (prior Friday, 58)
  • Perry County: 6 deaths (prior Friday, 6)
  • York County: 153 deaths (prior Friday, 138)

Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 31,418 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 12,084 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,818 and 878, respectively.

PA nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 5,419, or 67 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 22,591 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,961 cases among employees, for a total of 27,552 at 969 distinct facilities in 61 counties, according to the health department.

In addition, about 10,551 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.

Statewide, 1,970,600 individuals have had coronavirus tests, with 1,816,397 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Last Friday, the state reported that 1,881,488 people had been tested for the virus.

The state reports a total of 2,868,166 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
  • Nearly 5 percent are aged 13-18
  • About 12 percent are aged 19-24
  • About 36 percent are aged 25-49
  • Nearly 22 percent are aged 50-64
  • Nearly 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. However, the health department has emphasized that, increasingly, more younger people are being diagnosed with COVID-19.

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.
  • Wear a mask whenever out of your house.

“Wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and following the requirements set forth in the orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings, and telework will help keep our case counts low,” Levine said. “Together, as Pennsylvanians, all of our efforts are designed to support our communities to ensure that cases of COVID-19 remain low.”

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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