The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,032 new cases of coronavirus on Friday as the state approaches 100,000 infections.
The new report brings the state total to 99,478 cases since the first coronavirus case was reported in Pennsylvania on March 6. In the past four months, the virus has altered life in the Keystone state in almost every way imaginable.
This marks the second time in a week that the state has reported more than 1,000 new cases per day. The new report represents the highest total in a single day since May 10. The state had gone almost two months without reaching 1,000 cases in a single day (May 10 to July 10).
Across Pennsylvania, 6,992 deaths have been linked to COVID-19, including 19 new deaths reported on Friday. More than two-thirds of the state’s coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.
The state has made progress in reducing the number of new cases compared to spring, and fewer and fewer people die or are hospitalized. However, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said she is concerned about the increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, particularly among younger adults.
Citing the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, Governor Tom Wolf has ordered new restrictions on bars and restaurants; occupancy is limited to 25 percent and consumers must order food to buy alcoholic beverages. Wolf also ordered hats at meetings. Wolf has said that these steps are necessary to ensure that schools can open in the fall.
“We are at a turning point where we have to act,” Wolf said Wednesday.
A closer look
The state recorded 22,940 COVID-19 tests on Thursday and has conducted 141,307 tests in the past seven days. The state has increased its testing capacity in recent weeks.
In April, the state regularly reported more than 1,000 cases per day, peaking at 1,989 on April 9. Therefore, the number of new cases remains below the peak of spring.
But data from the health department reveals the steady increase in cases in the past four weeks.
June 20-26: 3,608 new cases, an average of 515 per day
June 27 to July 3: 4,371 new cases, an average of 624 per day
July 4-10: 5,135 new cases, an average of 733 per day
July 11-17: 5,602 new cases, an average of 800 per day
With the increase in cases, Levine is urging residents to wear masks and participate in social distancing to avoid a spike and help ensure that schools can offer face-to-face instruction in the fall.
“There are things that people can do right now to help our children get back to the classroom,” said Levine.
Southwest Pennsylvania, a region among the first to see a reduction in COVID-19 restrictions, has seen an increase in cases in recent weeks. Allegheny County, home of Pittsburgh, reported 240 new cases Friday; The median age of the newly infected is 34 years.
Philadelphia, which leads the state in infections, reports an increase of 163 cases.
Hospitals and nursing homes
The health department reports that 652 coronavirus patients are being treated in hospitals, well below the peak of about 2,800 in early spring. Most infected people experience relatively mild symptoms, but older people and those with health complications are at higher risk for requiring hospital treatment, health professionals say.
Statewide, according to the health department, there have been 4,784 deaths in nursing homes and personal care homes.
State data indicates that 18,520 residents in long-term care facilities have contracted the virus, along with 3,562 employees. A total of 22,082 people have been infected at these facilities.
Cases have been found in 777 long-term care facilities in 58 counties.
About 76 percent of those who have contracted the coronavirus have recovered, estimates the health department. The department believes that patients have recovered after 30 days have passed since the point of infection or the onset of symptoms.
The Wolf government released guidance Thursday for schools to open in the coming weeks. Students and staff will be required to wear masks, with limited exceptions, and schools will be encouraged to stagger class times and hold classes in gyms or outdoors when possible. Social distancing will be the rule in schools.
Businesses have been hit, and many have closed, in the aftermath of the pandemic. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate in June was 13 percent, the state Department of Labor and Industry said Friday. That actually represents a slight drop (0.4 percent) from May, but it is still well above normal. In June 2019, the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent.
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