The commonwealth today recorded the lowest number of new COVID-19 diagnoses in almost a month, with 885 new positive cases reported.
This is the lowest number of daily new cases since March 31, when the state reported 756 newly positive cases. The daily caseload then shot quickly upward, reaching a high of 1,989 on April 9 before settling in a general range of 1,000 to 1,500 for the past two weeks.
The new cases bring the commonwealth’s total to 42,050 cases since the pandemic began in Pennsylvania in early March. Almost 21 percent of all tests performed in the state have turned out positive for the virus.
Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine has said previously that case data reported on Mondays may be lower because of less reporting to the state over the weekend.
“As we see the number of new COVID-19 cases continuously change across the state that does not mean we can stop practicing social distancing,” she said.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 122 cases (yesterday, 117)
- Cumberland County: 282 cases (yesterday, 267)
- Dauphin County: 529 cases (yesterday, 519)
- Franklin County: 227 cases (yesterday, 205)
- Lancaster County: 1,633 cases (yesterday, 1,577)
- Lebanon County: 621 cases (yesterday, 612)
- Perry County: 26 cases (yesterday, 26)
- York County: 606 cases (yesterday, 593)
According to the health department, 47 more residents have died since yesterday’s report. This brings the number of confirmed deaths from COVID-19 to 1,597 since the pandemic started in PA in early March.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now is as follows:
- Adams County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- Cumberland County: 9 deaths (yesterday, 8)
- Dauphin County: 21 deaths (yesterday, 18)
- Franklin County: 2 deaths (yesterday, 2)
- Lancaster County: 75 deaths (yesterday, 74)
- Lebanon County: 7 deaths (yesterday, 7)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 9 deaths (yesterday, 8)
Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases statewide with 11,361 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 3,817 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 274 and 232, respectively.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 990, or about 62 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 7,037 resident cases of COVID-19, and 862 cases among employees, for a total of 7,899 at 441 distinct facilities in 40 counties, according to the health department.
Statewide, 203,422 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 161,372 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 198,593 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
- 38 percent are aged 25-49
- Nearly 28 percent are aged 50-64
- Nearly 26 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.
“We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families and 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 others. 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.
