An image from the state Department of Health’s lab in Exton, Pa.
New COVID-19 cases and newly reported fatalities were largely unchanged from yesterday, as the disease appears to have plateaued in Pennsylvania for now.
The state Department of Health today reported 1,145 new positive cases for the 24-hour period ending at midnight, one fewer than yesterday. The department also reported 63 more deaths from the disease, compared to 60 yesterday.
Since the pandemic began in early March, 26,490 Pennsylvanians have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 647 state residents have died from the disease.
Today, it was confirmed that Harrisburg school board Director Gerald Welch, 56, died this morning from complications of COVID-19.
At a press conference yesterday, state Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said that she believed the “curve was flattening” in Pennsylvania, meaning that, while the number of cases continue to go up each day, the case count no longer was growing “exponentially.”
“COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Pennsylvania, and even though the daily increases are not exponential, now is not the time to become complacent,” she said.
Locally, Lancaster County now has reported 29 deaths from the disease, three more than yesterday, and York County now has four fatalities, one more than yesterday. As of midnight, deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: five in Dauphin County, four in Cumberland County, two in Lebanon County and one each in Perry and Adams counties.
Locally, Dauphin County now has 271 confirmed cases, 22 more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 131 cases, seven more than yesterday. Lancaster County has 914 cases, York County has 381 cases, Lebanon County has 349 cases, Adams County has 64 cases and Perry County has 17 cases.
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 7,347 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,475 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 132 and 82, respectively.
Statewide, 137,584 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 111,094 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 133,631 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
- Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
- 1 percent are aged 13-18
- 6 percent are aged 19-24
- 40 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 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.
“We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families, our community,” Levine said. “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.
