An image from the cover of TheBurg’s May 2020 issue. Photo: Justin Ward
New coronavirus diagnoses continue to sink in number, though the state again adjusted up disease-related fatalities.
The state Department of Health today reported that 707 new cases of COVID-19 had been diagnosed as of midnight.
New daily cases in PA peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 cases, but have shown a gradual, relatively steady decline since. The state reported 837 new cases yesterday and 543 on Monday.
Of the new cases today, 278 are in residents of nursing and personal care homes.
With the additional cases, 58,698 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 169 cases (yesterday, 167)
- Cumberland County: 463 cases (yesterday, 461)
- Dauphin County: 871 cases (yesterday, 851)
- Franklin County: 545 cases (yesterday, 522)
- Lancaster County: 2,325 cases (yesterday, 2,295)
- Lebanon County: 849 cases (yesterday, 825)
- Perry County: 35 cases (yesterday, 35)
- York County: 803 cases (yesterday, 793)
Overall, 19.3 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
The health department today also reported an additional 137 COVID-19-related fatalities, meaning that 3,943 Pennsylvanians now have died from the disease. The majority of new fatalities—94—were residents of nursing or personal care homes.
In addition, these deaths occurred over “the past several weeks,” according to the health department, not just the prior 24 hours. The department often has to update fatality counts due to inconsistent reporting to the state and data conflicts.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 5 deaths (yesterday, 5)
- Cumberland County: 35 deaths (yesterday, 33)
- Dauphin County: 39 deaths (yesterday, 38)
- Franklin County: 13 deaths (yesterday, 12)
- Lancaster County: 172 deaths (yesterday, 168)
- Lebanon County: 19 deaths (yesterday, 17)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 14 deaths (yesterday, 14)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 15,376 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 5,513 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 904 and 556, respectively.
“As counties move from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” Levine said.
This week, the state plans to move 13 counties in the southwest portion of the state into the yellow phase, joining 24 counties in the northwest and north-central parts of PA that moved to yellow last week.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 2,705, or 68.6 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 12,408 resident cases of COVID-19, and 1,806 cases among employees, for a total of 14,214 at 543 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, 4,066 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 302,869 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 244,171 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 295,980 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 37 percent are aged 25-49
- 26 percent are aged 50-64
- 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.
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.
