An image from the state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.
New COVID-19 cases today again were just below 1,000 in PA, as the state health department reported 989 newly confirmed cases.
This marks six days in a row with new case numbers below 1,000, the first time that has happened in about six weeks.
With the additional cases, 61,611 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
New cases in PA peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 cases, but have shown a gradual, relatively steady decline since, despite increasingly greater levels of testing for the virus over that time period.
Of the new cases today, 320 are in residents of nursing and personal care homes.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 185 cases (yesterday, 183)
- Cumberland County: 515 cases (yesterday, 492)
- Dauphin County: 938 cases (yesterday, 912)
- Franklin County: 601 cases (yesterday, 580)
- Lancaster County: 2,470 cases (yesterday, 2,428)
- Lebanon County: 873 cases (yesterday, 863)
- Perry County: 40 cases (yesterday, 36)
- York County: 835 cases (yesterday, 828)
Overall, 18.8 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
The health department also reported another 61 fatalities, meaning that 4,403 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease over the past two months.
The majority of new fatalities—52—were residents of nursing or personal care homes.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 6 deaths (yesterday, 6)
- Cumberland County: 48 deaths (yesterday, 41)
- Dauphin County: 39 deaths (yesterday, 41)
- Franklin County: 13 deaths (yesterday, 17)
- Lancaster County: 186 deaths (yesterday, 186)
- Lebanon County: 19 deaths (yesterday, 19)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 15 deaths (yesterday, 16)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 16,032 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 5,797 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,021 and 614, respectively.
“As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” said health Secretary Rachel Levine.
So far, the state has moved 37 counties in the southwest portion of the state into the yew phase. On Friday, 12 more counties, including Cumberland, York, Perry and Adams counties, will enter the yellow phase.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 3,043, or 69.1 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 13,257 resident cases of COVID-19, and 2,075 cases among employees, for a total of 15,332 at 556 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, 4,432 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 327,836 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 266,225 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 319,832 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
- Nearly 2 percent are aged 13-18
- Nearly 6 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 26 percent are aged 50-64
- Nearly 29 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.
“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.
