Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said she expects the number of coronavirus cases to continue to rise, based on recent days.
Levine provided an update on the coronavirus and its impact on the state in a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
As of Tuesday morning, Pennsylvania has 851 confirmed cases of COVID-19, a jump of more than 200 from the day before. The virus has shown up in 40 of the state’s 67 counties. At least seven people have died.
“We expect to see these numbers increase each day,” Levine said.
“It underscores the need for all of us to stay home,” she said.
You can watch her news conference live online.
Levine said “sustained community spread” of the virus is being seen in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas.
“We are seeing sustained community spread, particularly in the southeast,” Levine said. It’s also seen in Allegheny County, she said.
But she said sustained community spread is not being seen in other areas yet, which is why the state hasn’t issued a stay-at-home order statewide.
On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf put seven counties under a stay-at-home order, including the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas.
Levine said some residents in nursing homes have contracted the coronavirus. She didn’t identify the nursing homes but said state officials are working to support those institutions.
The health secretary was asked about President Trump’s comments today that he’s hoping Americans can resume working and the country can be back up and running by Easter. Levine said officials will have to make decisions based on the number of cases being reported.
“There is every reason to believe this increase will continue and rise exponentially,” Levine said.
It’s hard to predict a month out, she said. “We’re going to take this day by day and week by week,” Levine said.
When asked about hospital capacity, Levine said state officials are working with health care systems to ensure they have enough beds. Levine said the health department has cut red tape so hospitals can prepare for new patients.
“Hospitals can expand the number of beds without getting permission from the Department of Health,” Levine said.
She said non-traditional sites, including hotels, may be tapped to serve some patients.
Levine said the state is working to purchase ventilators and masks to ensure health care workers have the supplies they need. Levine urged those who are able to give blood. Around the country, blood banks have seen a drop in donations.
Monday, Wolf said schools will be closed until at least April 6. Also Monday, enforcement began in the state’s directive that all non-life-essential businesses close.
On Tuesday, state police said they issued 27 warnings to noncompliant companies.
Pennsylvania’s first coronavirus case was reported less than three weeks ago.
Levine has said she is concerned that the rapid spread of the coronavirus could threaten the capacity of the health care system. She has urged Pennsylvanians to stay home so hospitals aren’t overwhelmed.
Pennsylvania’s neighboring states are seeing dramatic spikes in cases. New York now has more than 25,000 cases, while New Jersey has confirmed more than 2,800 cases.
More:
Grocery stores in central Pa. continue to operate with adjusted hours, limits on some products
New York now has 25,665 cases coronavirus cases, and the number is doubling every 3 days
New York high school principal who worked with struggling students dies of coronavirus at age 36