Positive COVID-19 cases and tests over time. Source: PA Department of Health
New COVID-19 cases in PA ticked up this past week, with the state reporting an average of just over 600 new daily diagnoses over the last seven days.
With today’s update, the state Department of Health reported an average of 624 new cases per day since last Friday, an increase of just over 100 new cases per day on average compared to the previous week, when the department reported an average of 515 new cases per day.
For the past 24 hours, the department confirmed 667 new positive cases throughout Pennsylvania.
Cases peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 daily new cases. Since then, new cases generally have leveled off, despite increasingly greater testing levels for the virus.
With the additional cases, 88,741 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 4,368 over the past week.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 344 cases (prior Friday, 324)
- Cumberland County: 871 cases (prior Friday, 830)
- Dauphin County: 2,161 cases (prior Friday, 1,917)
- Franklin County: 954 cases (prior Friday, 902)
- Lancaster County: 4,530 cases (prior Friday, 4,280)
- Lebanon County: 1,375 cases (prior Friday, 1,300)
- Perry County: 86 cases (prior Friday, 86)
- York County: 1,577 cases (prior Friday, 1,428)
Overall, 11 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
The department also reported an additional 167 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 6,746 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 13 deaths (prior Friday, 12)
- Cumberland County: 64 deaths (prior Friday, 63)
- Dauphin County: 140 deaths (prior Friday, 132)
- Franklin County: 44 deaths (prior Friday, 42)
- Lancaster County: 365 deaths (prior Friday, 354)
- Lebanon County: 43 deaths (prior Friday, 43)
- Perry County: 5 deaths (prior Friday, 5)
- York County: 54 deaths (prior Friday, 43)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 21,885 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 8,562 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,619 and 810, respectively.
“As the entire state is now in the green phase, we must remain committed to protecting against COVID-19 by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and avoiding large gatherings this holiday weekend,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said.
On Friday, Lebanon County became the last county in PA to move into the green phase of reopening, although Allegheny County, which has experienced a recent spike in cases, has its closed bars, restaurants and casinos for one week.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 4,583, or 67.9 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 17,888 resident cases of COVID-19 and 3,323 cases among employees, for a total of 21,211 at 706 distinct facilities in 52 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, about 6,745 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 804,144 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 715,403 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Last Friday, the state reported that 719,081 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
- 1 percent are aged 5-12
- 2 percent are aged 13-18
- 7 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
- 24 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.
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.
“Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach,” Levine said. “However, the virus has not gone away, and we are seeing cases rise, especially in southwest Pennsylvania.”
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.
