An image from the PA Department of Health lab in Exton.
Pennsylvania appears to have further flattened its coronavirus case curve, as new COVID-19 cases fell below 1,000 for a fourth straight day.
The department today reported 888 newly diagnosed cases as of midnight, bringing the total to 51,845 cases since the pandemic began in early March. Yesterday, the state reported 865 new cases.
Overall, about 20 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 148 cases (yesterday, 148)
- Cumberland County: 386 cases (yesterday, 382)
- Dauphin County: 711 cases (yesterday, 695)
- Franklin County: 406 cases (yesterday, 396)
- Lancaster County: 2,041 cases (yesterday, 2,018)
- Lebanon County: 774 cases (yesterday, 766)
- Perry County: 34 cases (yesterday, 34)
- York County: 722 cases (yesterday, 716)
Newly diagnosed cases peaked in the state in early April at nearly 2,000 positive cases. They then fell to a range of 1,000 to 1,500 for about three weeks before falling below 1,000 each day since Sunday.
The health department today also reported an additional 94 COVID-19-related fatalities, meaning that 3,106 Pennsylvanians now have died from the disease in less than two months.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 5 deaths (yesterday, 5)
- Cumberland County: 26 deaths (yesterday, 25)
- Dauphin County: 29 deaths (yesterday, 29)
- Franklin County: 9 deaths (yesterday, 9)
- Lancaster County: 145 deaths (yesterday, 144)
- Lebanon County: 15 deaths (yesterday, 15)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 11 deaths (yesterday, 11)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 13,742 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 4,827 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 625 and 471, respectively.
“As we prepare to move a number of counties from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said.
On Friday, the state plans to move 24 counties in the northwest and north-central parts of the state from “red” to “yellow” categories, thereby loosening business restrictions and stay-at-home orders there.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 2,108, or almost 68 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 10,010 resident cases of COVID-19, and 1,372 cases among employees, for a total of 11,382 at 502 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, 3,316 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 256,340 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 204,495 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 250,882 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
- Nearly 6 percent are aged 19-24
- 37 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 27 percent are aged 50-64
- 27 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.
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.
“We must continue to protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, which includes our seniors, those with underlying health issues, our healthcare workers and our first responders,” Levine said. “I am proud of the work that Pennsylvanians have done so far, but we cannot stop now, we must continue to take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from COVID-19.”
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
