An image from the state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.
New coronavirus cases on Friday ticked up in PA, and the state again increased disease fatalities following data revisions.
The state Department of Health today reported 1,323 newly diagnosed cases, bringing the total to 54,238 since the pandemic began in early March. Until today, new-case data had been around 1,000 or below for a week.
Many of the new cases—413—are in residents of nursing homes.
Overall, 20 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 154 cases (yesterday, 151)
- Cumberland County: 414 cases (yesterday, 403)
- Dauphin County: 764 cases (yesterday, 735)
- Franklin County: 452 cases (yesterday, 425)
- Lancaster County: 2,122 cases (yesterday, 2,070)
- Lebanon County: 797 cases (yesterday, 785)
- Perry County: 34 cases (yesterday, 34)
- York County: 753 cases (yesterday, 740)
Newly diagnosed cases peaked in the state in early April at nearly 2,000 positive cases.
The health department today also reported an additional 200 COVID-19-related fatalities, meaning that 3,616 Pennsylvanians now have died from the disease in less than two months. The majority of new fatalities—103—were residents of nursing homes.
The newly reported fatalities occurred in the past several weeks, not just in the past 24 hours. Health Secretary Rachel Levine has said that the state updates its counts often based on new information from localities and as it clears up data conflicts.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 5 deaths (yesterday, 5)
- Cumberland County: 31 deaths (yesterday, 31)
- Dauphin County: 37 deaths (yesterday, 33)
- Franklin County: 11 deaths (yesterday, 11)
- Lancaster County: 165 deaths (yesterday, 161)
- Lebanon County: 16 deaths (yesterday, 16)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 13 deaths (yesterday, 13)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 14,384 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 5,037 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 833 and 515, 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,” Levine said.
Today, the state is moving 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, 2,458, or 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 10,919 resident cases of COVID-19, and 1,542 cases among employees, for a total of 12,461 at 522 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, 3,553 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 270,559 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 216,321 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 262,788 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
- 26 percent are aged 50-64
- Nearly 28 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.
