An image from the state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.
COVID-19 case data today remained in line with recent trends, as the state reported 1,156 new diagnoses of the virus.
The new cases bring the statewide total to 35,684 positive cases since the pandemic began in Pennsylvania in early March.
State Secretary of Health Rachel Levine has said that data over the past week show a “flattening of the curve” for new cases, which she says demonstrates that the state’s mitigation efforts are working.
“As we start to see the number of new COVID-19 cases decrease across the state that does not mean we can stop practicing social distancing,” Levine said.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 92 cases (yesterday, 91)
- Cumberland County: 207 cases (yesterday, 194)
- Dauphin County: 422 cases (yesterday, 400)
- Franklin County: 152 cases (yesterday, 143)
- Lancaster County: 1,326 cases (yesterday, 1,295)
- Lebanon County: 535 cases (yesterday, 525)
- Perry County: 23 cases (yesterday, 20)
- York County: 531 cases (yesterday, 517)
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 9,696 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 3,294 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 365 and 230, respectively.
The state also reported 58 additional deaths from the disease, bringing the total to 1,622 fatalities across the commonwealth. These include both confirmed positive and probable deaths caused by the COVID-19 virus.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now is as follows:
- Adams County: 2 deaths (yesterday, 2)
- Cumberland County: 6 deaths (yesterday, 6)
- Dauphin County: 13 deaths (yesterday, 11)
- Franklin County: 10 deaths (yesterday, 10)
- Lancaster County: 86 deaths (yesterday, 88)
- Lebanon County: 8 deaths (yesterday, 8)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 14 deaths (yesterday, 13)
Levine has said that, sometimes, fatalities may show a drop in certain areas due to subsequent data showing the person died in one county, but actually lived in another county, which may be the case today for Lancaster County.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 845, or more than half, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are now 5,337 resident cases of COVID-19, and 617 cases among employees, for a total of 5,954 at 407 distinct facilities in 39 counties, according to the health department.
Statewide, 171,956 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 136,272 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 166,851 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
- Nearly 39 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 28 percent are aged 50-64
- 25 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.
“If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but others,” she said. “We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
