Pennsylvania reports 1,153 new coronavirus cases, 19 new deaths

Pennsylvania had its fifth day in September with more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,153 new cases, its third-highest day of the month, bringing the total to 158,967.

The state also reported 19 new deaths on Wednesday, with one from July and the rest in September. There have been 268 deaths attributed to covid-19 in September, although that grand total is likely to rise in the coming weeks as reports trickle into the state health department.

The 268 deaths so far make this the second-lowest month since March:

• March: 92
• April: 3,387
• May: 2,640
• June: 794
• July: 473
• August: 488

Allegheny County had the most new cases in Southwestern Pennsylvania with 43 new positive results to bring the county’s total to 12,348. Here’s how the rest of the region fared, with total cases and growth from Tuesday:

• Armstrong: 448 (+4)
• Beaver: 1,924 (+19)
• Butler: 1,074 (+15)
• Fayette: 812 (+3)
• Indiana: 737 (+7)
• Somerset: 220 (+1)
• Washington: 1,375 (+11)
• Westmoreland: 2,277 (+17)

Across the state, Philadelphia had the most new cases with 402, followed by Lancaster (55), Delaware (54), Berks (45) and Bucks (44).

Centre County had massive growth in cases with 2,224 in September, after reporting just 129 in August and 156 in July. Indiana County also had its highest monthly total with 310 cases, with its next highest month of 171 in August.

According to the state’s covid-19 dashboard, there are currently 539 coronavirus patients hospitalized in the state. The state has 4,969 ventilators, with 1,108 currently in use, but only 66 by covid-19 patients.

There are 22,935 residents and 5,079 employees of nursing and personal care home who have been diagnosed with covid-19. Residents in those homes have accounted for 5,456 of the state’s deaths.