HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania state health officials are reporting more positive cases of coronavirus, including the first in the Lehigh Valley.
An adult in Northampton County tested presumed positive for COVID-19, the state health department reported Thursday morning.
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure released a statement in response, which can be read in full at the bottom of this page.
There were also four more presumed positive cases in Montgomery County.
The five new cases are all adults either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital, state health officials said.
That makes 22 cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania:
- Bucks (2)
- Delaware (1)
- Monroe (2)
- Montgomery (13)
- Northampton (1)
- Philadelphia (1)
- Wayne (1)
- Pike (1)
The cases in Delaware and Wayne counties have been confirmed positive by the CDC, while the rest tested positive in a state lab and are awaiting CDC confirmation.
As of Thursday morning, there were 196 people in Pennsylvania tested for coronavirus. Of them, 100 have tested negative and 75 are pending. The other 21 are the positive cases listed above.
So far, no one in Pennsylvania has died of coronavirus.
Statement from Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure:
“In light of the announcement of a diagnosed case of COVID-19 in Northampton County, it is important that we remain calm. It is imperative that we continue good hygiene practices, and that we, as much as possible, limit interactions with vulnerable populations such as the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. I am in contact with Governor Wolf’s office and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Our Emergency Management Team is in regular contact with PEMA.
“The PA Department of Health through its personnel who live and work here in the Lehigh Valley, are performing close contact investigations. When they discover people who have been in contact with the infected person, those people will be asked to stay in quarantine for fourteen (14) days. During this time period, any person who has come into contact with an infected person will undergo rapid testing.
“Northampton County is closely monitoring this situation and we will provide frequent updates as information becomes available.”
