COVID-19 cases and tests, over time. Source: PA Department of Health
New COVID-19 cases continued to spike in PA over the past week, with total confirmed cases now surpassing 200,000 since the pandemic began.
Since last Friday, the commonwealth recorded an average of 2,134 newly diagnosed cases per day, according to the state Department of Health.
This compares to an average of 1,641 new daily cases last week, and 1,397, 1,146 and 1,011 new daily cases per day for the prior three weeks, respectively. The department also reports that testing has increased substantially over this time (see chart).
Locally, diagnosed cases are now as follows since the pandemic began:
- Adams County: 1,158 cases (prior Friday, 1,062)
- Cumberland County: 2,526 cases (prior Friday, 2,391)
- Dauphin County: 4,898 cases (prior Friday, 4,556)
- Franklin County: 2,269 cases (prior Friday, 2,081)
- Lancaster County: 9,764 cases (prior Friday, 9,205)
- Lebanon County: 3,132 cases (prior Friday, 2,760)
- Perry County: 370 cases (prior Friday, 347)
- York County: 6,630 cases (prior Friday, 6,137)
Today, the department reported 2,641 newly positive cases throughout Pennsylvania for the past 24 hours ending at midnight, which includes 225 cases from previous days but reported today.
With today’s update, 205,517 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 14,938 over the past week, according to the health department.
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 39,471 cases. Allegheny County ranks second with 15,622 cases, and Montgomery County is third statewide with 14,157 cases.
The department also reported an additional 159 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 8,784 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March. Fatalities totaled 168, 149, 129 and 98 over the prior four weeks, respectively.
Around central PA, COVID-19 fatalities now stand as follows:
- Adams County: 28 deaths (prior Friday, 27)
- Cumberland County: 79 deaths (prior Friday, 78)
- Dauphin County: 196 deaths (prior Friday, 192)
- Franklin County: 55 deaths (prior Friday, 54)
- Lancaster County: 477 deaths (prior Friday, 472)
- Lebanon County: 67 deaths (prior Friday, 66)
- Perry County: 6 deaths (prior Friday, 6)
- York County: 205 deaths (prior Friday, 199)
PA nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 5,800, or 66 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 26,013 resident cases of COVID-19, and 5,627 cases among employees, for a total of 31,640 at 1,064 distinct facilities in 63 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, about 12,373 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 2,503,500 individuals have had coronavirus tests, with 2,297,983 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Last Friday, the state reported that 2,391,447 people had been tested for the virus.
The state reports a total of 4,006,017 PCR tests, which includes many people, such as health care workers, who have been tested more than once.
Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:
- About 1 percent are aged 0-4
- About 2 percent are aged 5-12
- About 5 percent are aged 13-18
- Nearly 14 percent are aged 19-24
- Nearly 36 percent are aged 25-49
- About 21 percent are aged 50-64
- Nearly 21 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. However, the health department has emphasized that, increasingly, younger people are being diagnosed with COVID-19.
The health department 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.
- Wear a mask whenever out of your house.
For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.
Currently, we are providing a COVID-19 update weekly, each Friday, or as breaking news warrants.
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