The number of new COVID-19 diagnoses continued to be relatively stable in Pennsylvania, with cases increasing somewhat from yesterday.
The state Department of Health today reported 1,245 new COVID-19 cases, 100 more than yesterday. The department also reported 60 additional deaths from the disease, compared to 63 yesterday.
Since Saturday, the state has reported a similar range of new cases–around 1,150 to 1,250–after a spike to nearly 2,000 late last week.
Since the pandemic began in early March, 27,735 Pennsylvanians have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 707 state residents have died from the disease.
Secretary of Health Rachel Levine has said in recent days that she believed the “curve was flattening” in Pennsylvania, though has warned repeatedly against “complacency.”
In fact, just yesterday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced further mandates on “life-sustaining” businesses that remain open, including ensuring enough space for six-foot social distancing and requiring greater use of masks.
Locally, Lancaster County now has reported 33 deaths from the disease, four more than yesterday, and Dauphin County now has seven fatalities, two more than yesterday. As of midnight, deaths in other midstate counties were unchanged: four in Cumberland and York counties, two in Lebanon County and one each in Perry and Adams counties.
The virus has spread to all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Locally, Dauphin County now has 287 confirmed cases, 16 more than yesterday. Cumberland County has 136 cases, six more than yesterday. Lancaster County has 970 cases, York County has 393 cases, Lebanon County has 380 cases, Adams County has 67 cases and Perry County has 17 cases.
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 7,684 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 2,544 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths from the disease: 134 and 89, respectively.
Statewide, 141,470 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 113,735 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 137,584 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:
- Less than 1 percent are aged 0-4
- Nearly 1 percent are aged 5-12
- 1 percent are aged 13-18
- 6 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 40 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 29 percent are aged 50-64
- Nearly 23 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.
“We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families, our community,” Levine said. “If you must go out, please make as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to continue to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our health care workers and frontline responders.”
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.
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
