Charts of daily new cases and tests over time. Source: PA Department of Health
New COVID-19 cases in PA remained relatively stable this week, with the state reporting an average of just over 500 new diagnoses over the last seven days.
With today’s update, the state Department of Health has reported an average of 515 new cases per day since last Friday. For the past 24 hours, the department confirmed 600 new positive cases throughout Pennsylvania.
Cases peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 daily new cases. Since then, cases have shown a gradual decline, despite increasingly greater testing levels for the virus.
With the additional cases, 84,370 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 3,608 over the past week.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 324 cases (prior Friday, 309)
- Cumberland County: 830 cases (prior Friday, 768)
- Dauphin County: 1,917 cases (prior Friday, 1,725)
- Franklin County: 902 cases (prior Friday, 872)
- Lancaster County: 4,280 cases (prior Friday, 3,911)
- Lebanon County: 1,300 cases (prior Friday, 1,226)
- Perry County: 86 cases (prior Friday, 79)
- York County: 1,428 cases (prior Friday, 1,229)
Overall, 11.7 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
The department also reported an additional 180 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 6,579 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 12 deaths (prior Friday, 11)
- Cumberland County: 63 deaths (prior Friday, 61)
- Dauphin County: 132 deaths (prior Friday, 118)
- Franklin County: 42 deaths (prior Friday, 42)
- Lancaster County: 354 deaths (prior Friday, 344)
- Lebanon County: 43 deaths (prior Friday, 40)
- Perry County: 5 deaths (prior Friday, 5)
- York County: 43 deaths (prior Friday, 35)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 21,203 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 8,301 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,587 and 794, respectively.
“As nearly the entire state is now in the green phase, we must remain committed to protecting against COVID-19,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said.
With the exception of Lebanon County, all of the Harrisburg area is now in the “green” phase of reopening, which means fewer restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Gov. Tom Wolf stated today that Lebanon County would enter the green phase on July 3.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 4,518, 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 17,527 resident cases of COVID-19, and 3,162 cases among employees, for a total of 20,689 at 678 distinct facilities in 51 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, about 6,395 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 719,081 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 634,711 people testing negative, according to the state health department. A week ago, the state reported that 637,218 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
- Nearly 7 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 25 percent are aged 50-64
- Nearly 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.
“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. Each of us has a responsibility to continue to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently. Together we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.”
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
Currently, we are providing a COVID-19 data update weekly, each Friday, or as breaking news warrants.
