Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

New COVID-19 cases relatively stable in PA, despite surges around colleges

COVID-19 cases and tests, over time. Source: PA Department of Health

New COVID-19 cases remained relatively stable in PA over the past week, despite a spike in cases in counties hosting major college campuses.

Since last Friday, Pennsylvania recorded an average of 828 newly diagnosed cases per day, according to the state Department of Health.

This compares to an average of 746 new daily cases last week, and 810 and 622 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).

Centre County has experienced a surge of cases since Penn State opened for the semester, recording 1,109 new diagnoses just since Sept. 1. Columbia County, home to Bloomsburg University, also has seen a significant case increase recently, according to the state. In response, the health department today stated that it plans to add testing sites in both counties starting Sept. 25.

“These testing sites will be open to anyone who feels they need a test,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said. “It is important that even people with no symptoms who test positive isolate and quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

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

  • Adams County: 766 cases (prior Friday, 723)
  • Cumberland County: 1,739 cases (prior Friday, 1,649)
  • Dauphin County: 3,662 cases (prior Friday, 3,543)
  • Franklin County: 1,701 cases (prior Friday, 1,633)
  • Lancaster County: 7,478 cases (prior Friday, 7,238)
  • Lebanon County: 1,909 cases (prior Friday, 1,807)
  • Perry County: 201 cases (prior Friday, 184)
  • York County: 4,391 cases (prior Friday, 3,995)

Today, the health department confirmed 760 newly positive cases throughout Pennsylvania for the past 24 hours ending at midnight.

With today’s update, 148,683 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 5,798 over the past week, according to the health department.

The department also reported an additional 97 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 7,934 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March.

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

  • Adams County: 25 deaths (prior Friday, 24)
  • Cumberland County: 75 deaths (prior Friday, 73)
  • Dauphin County: 171 deaths (prior Friday, 169)
  • Franklin County: 49 deaths (prior Friday, 49)
  • Lancaster County: 451 deaths (prior Friday, 445)
  • Lebanon County: 58 deaths (prior Friday, 57)
  • Perry County: 6 deaths (prior Friday, 6)
  • York County: 138 deaths (prior Friday, 132)

Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 30,783 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 11,855 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,803 and 869, respectively.

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

PA nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 5,343, or 67.3 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities,  the health department stated.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 22,162 resident cases of COVID-19, and 4,839 cases among employees, for a total of 27,001 at 957 distinct facilities in 61 counties, according to the health department.

In addition, about 10,281 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.

Statewide, 1,881,488 individuals have had coronavirus tests, with 1,732,805 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Last Friday, the state reported that 1,794,913 people had been tested for the virus.

The state reports a total of 2,680,238 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
  • About 4 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
  • About 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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