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Latest coronavirus numbers in Pa: nearly 72,000 people diagnosed, 5,555 have died

Virus Outbreak Vatican

Nuns wearing gloves and masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pray in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 31, 2020. Pope Francis has cheerfully greeted people in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, as he resumed his practice of speaking to the faithful there for the first time since lockdown began in Italy and at the Vatican in early March. Instead of the tens of thousands of people who might have turned out on a similarly brilliantly sunny day like this Sunday, in pre-pandemic times, perhaps a few hundred came to the square, standing well apart from others or in small family groups. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)AP

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The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Sunday reported 511 new positive coronavirus cases, raising the statewide total to 71,926 in about three months.

There have been 5,555 deaths in the state due to COVID-19, with 18 new fatalities reported on Sunday.

The numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths were reported as of midnight Sunday. There are 383,111 patients who have tested negative, the department said.

More: Coronavirus charts, data, resources

Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine has previously said the continuing decline of new cases has been encouraging. This marks the 21th day in a row the state has reported fewer than 1,000 new cases.

Most of those infected with the coronavirus recover without hospital treatment and suffer relatively mild symptoms. But the virus can be serious for seniors and those with underlying health conditions.

About two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes. The department of health reports that there are 15,486 resident cases of COVID-19 in nursing and personal care homes, and 2,659 cases among employees at 609 distinct facilities in 44 counties.

On Friday, Dauphin County and seven other counties entered the state’s yellow coronavirus phase, which allows more businesses to reopen, with some restrictions. Also Friday, several counties were the first to move into the green phase, which is the least restrictive.

More counties, mostly in western Pennsylvania, will be moving to green this coming Friday.

Gov. Wolf has said he anticipates the remaining 10 red counties will be lifted from the stay-at-home order by June 5. They include Lancaster, Lehigh and the Philadelphia region.

The governor said public schools, closed from March to the end of the current academic year, will reopen in the fall.

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