Pennsylvania's covid-19 death toll rises by 38

On Thursday, while the Pennsylvania Department of Health continued to report new covid-19 cases below the 1,000 mark, its death count increased the most since June 25.

The department reported 807 new cases of covid-19 across the state. It’s the ninth straight day the state saw triple-digit increases in its total to date of coronavirus cases, which now stands at 116,521.

Meanwhile, the state announced 38 deaths to its total of 7,282 — the largest one-day increase since June 25.

The department said there were 148,132 tests administered in the past week, producing 5,496 unique positives.

In long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania, the department said there are 19,799 resident cases of covid-19, and 4,071 cases among employees, for a total of 23,870 at 870 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Among the state’s total deaths, 4,943 (67.9%) have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.

There are 663 people currently hospitalized for covid-19 in Pennsylvania, according to the state’s covid-19 dashboard — 98 of them are on ventilators.

Of the state’s 67 counties, Philadelphia and Allegheny accounted for more than a quarter of Thursday’s new cases. Philadelphia led with 112 cases, followed by Allegheny (100), Delaware (44) and York (44). No new cases were announced in 16 counties, including Clarion and Somerset.

Of the counties that saw deaths added to their totals, Philadelphia topped all with 10 new deaths. The state raised its total deaths in Allegheny County by three to 243, despite the county itself reporting 251, a discrepancy that’s been credited to different reporting methods between the county and the state.