Coronavirus in Pa.: 7,100+ new cases, 231 more deaths reported, but hospitalizations dip

COVID-19 vaccination clinic for first responders

Andrew Hallett, with Liberty Fire Company in Bangor, gets a COVID-19 vaccine on Jan 16 during a vaccination clinic for Pa. first responders at Bangor Area High School. Mount Bethel and Wind Gap Community pharmacies hosted the clinic. (Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com)Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 7,166 new coronavirus cases and 231 more deaths on Saturday.

Across Pennsylvania, 761,777 people have contracted COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic about a year ago. Statewide, 19,188 total deaths have been tied to the virus.

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According to the health department, 4,848 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized as of Saturday morning, down from a December peak that topped 6,300. About 1,000 people with coronavirus are in intensive care, the state said.

The COVID-19 vaccine is being given primarily to health care workers. It will become available at pharmacies, but it’ll still take some time until everyone can get one, the state said. The state plans to hold mass vaccination clinics, health secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. So far, about 350,000 people in Pa. have had at least the first of the two shots needed for the vaccine.

Of those who’ve had a coronavirus test in the seven days ending Jan. 14, 12.7% were positive. Anything over 5% shows significant community spread of COVID-19.

Most of the patients hospitalized, and most of those who’ve died, are ages 65 or older, the state said.

The health department reports 76% of those who have contracted the coronavirus have recovered. The state considers patients to have recovered when they are 30 days past the point of infection or the onset of symptoms. Around 3.4 million people have had negative tests.

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