COVID-19 hospitalizations have turned sharply upward in Pennsylvania, with 347 people hospitalized as of early Friday, according to the state department of health. That’s up from about 260 at the start of the week.
The number in intensive rose to 75, a dozen more than Wednesday.
The state on Friday also reported 557 new COVID-19 infections, continuing a string of days of 500-plus new infections. That’s a big change from early July, when Pennsylvania’s seven-day average of new infections fell as low as 161.
As with the surge in new cases all over the country, Pennsylvania’s upturn is attributed to the delta variant, which is more contagious. According to tracking by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is limited and subject to a time lag, the prevalence of the delta variant was relatively low in Pennsylvania, recently accounting for fewer than 10% of cases.
However, 10 of 14 positive test results at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center last week involved delta.
Pennsylvania on Friday reported one new COVID-19 death, raising the state’s toll to 27,820.
The state said 62.2% of Pennsylvanians 18 or older are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.