Pa. reports 193 new COVID-19 deaths, but fewer are in hospitals

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported nearly 200 new deaths tied to COVID-19 Friday, but fewer people are hospitalized with the virus.

The state reported 193 new fatalities, raising the statewide total to 20,321. This week, the state passed another grim milestone in the pandemic, as more than 20,000 deaths have now been tied to the coronavirus. While it took eight months to reach 10,000 fatalities, it took less than two months to double that number.

On a more positive note, the state reported 4,169 people are being treated in hospitals for COVID-19, as the number of hospitalizations continues its decline in recent weeks. The number of people being treated for COVID-19 peaked at more than 6,300 in December. The health department reports 822 people are being treated in intensive care units.

The state reported 5,338 new coronavirus cases Friday, raising the statewide total to 794,172 since the beginning of the pandemic. The number of new infections has dropped in recent weeks; the state had surpassed 10,000 new daily cases with regularity in December.

This week, Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration said it is expanding vaccine eligibility to anyone over 65 and all those between the ages of 16 and 64 with chronic health issues or high-risk conditions. Those with cancer, heart disease, Down syndrome, pregnancy and other conditions are now in Phase 1A, the state’s earliest phase of vaccine distribution.

More health systems, pharmacies and grocery stores are starting to get limited supplies of the vaccine, but many Pennsylvanian are finding it’s not so easy to get the shot. Many are calling multiple pharmacies and finding they are out of luck.

State officials warn that residents will need to be patient and there isn’t enough supply to distribute the vaccine to all those who are eligible, at this point. Health care providers are also asking people to understand that it may still take weeks or months to have an adequate supply to provide doses to everyone who wants them.

On the upside, health care officials say they are confident they can scale up and distribute vaccines quickly as more become available. For now, the demand far outweighs the supply.

So far, more than 585,000 vaccine doses have been administered. The vaccines require two doses, and 98,881 have received both doses. The vast majority of those who have been vaccinated are health care workers and residents and staff of nursing homes.

Most of those who contract the coronavirus recover after relatively mild symptoms, and some people who test positive don’t even feel sick. But health experts warn the virus poses risks to everyone, particularly seniors and those who have health complications.

Even those with no symptoms can pass COVID-19 to others, experts say.

Gov. Wolf announced Friday he is nominating Alison Beam, his deputy chief of staff, to succeed outgoing Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. President Joe Biden has nominated Levine to be his assistant health secretary. She is poised to become the first openly-transgender official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Wolf also has also named Dr. Wendy Braund as Interim Acting Physician General, replacing Levine in that position.

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