An image from the state Department of Health lab in Exton, Pa.
New COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania bumped up above 1,000 today, as the state again revised its fatality data sharply upwards.
The state Department of Health today reported 1,070 newly diagnosed cases, bringing the total to 52,915 since the pandemic began in early March. Until today, new cases had been lower than 1,000 for four straight days.
The majority of new cases—613—are in residents of nursing homes.
Overall, almost 21 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.
Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:
- Adams County: 151 cases (yesterday, 148)
- Cumberland County: 403 cases (yesterday, 386)
- Dauphin County: 735 cases (yesterday, 711)
- Franklin County: 425 cases (yesterday, 406)
- Lancaster County: 2,070 cases (yesterday, 2,041)
- Lebanon County: 785 cases (yesterday, 774)
- Perry County: 34 cases (yesterday, 34)
- York County: 740 cases (yesterday, 722)
Newly diagnosed cases peaked in the state in early April at nearly 2,000 positive cases. For nearly a week, they’ve been in a range of 800 to 1,100.
The health department today also reported an additional 310 COVID-19-related fatalities, meaning that 3,416 Pennsylvanians now have died from the disease in less than two months. The majority of new fatalities—247—were residents of nursing homes.
The newly reported fatalities occurred in the past two weeks, not just in the past 24 hours. Health Secretary Rachel Levine has said that the state updates its counts often based on new information from localities and as it clears up data conflicts.
Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:
- Adams County: 5 deaths (yesterday, 5)
- Cumberland County: 31 deaths (yesterday, 26)
- Dauphin County: 33 deaths (yesterday, 29)
- Franklin County: 11 deaths (yesterday, 9)
- Lancaster County: 161 deaths (yesterday, 145)
- Lebanon County: 16 deaths (yesterday, 15)
- Perry County: 1 death (yesterday, 1)
- York County: 13 deaths (yesterday, 11)
Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 14,006 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 4,915 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 698 and 506, respectively.
“As we prepare to move a number of counties from red to yellow, we need all Pennsylvanians to continue to follow the social distancing and mitigation efforts in place,” Levine said.
On Friday, the state plans to move 24 counties in the northwest and north-central parts of the state from “red” to “yellow” categories, thereby loosening business restrictions and stay-at-home orders there.
Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Out of total deaths, 2,355, or almost 69 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.
In nursing and personal care homes, there are 10,506 resident cases of COVID-19, and 1,489 cases among employees, for a total of 11,995 at 514 distinct facilities in 44 counties, according to the health department.
In addition, 3,437 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.
Statewide, 262,788 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 209,873 people testing negative, according to the state health department. Yesterday, the state reported that 256,340 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
- 37 percent are aged 25-49
- 26 percent are aged 50-64
- 27 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 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.
