The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 849 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, the second highest one-day total since late May.
The health department said the statewide total has risen to 92,148 cases. The new data follows the state reporting 995 new cases Tuesday, the highest one-day number since May 10.
Across Pennsylvania, 6,812 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, including 25 new fatalities reported Wednesday, the health department said. More than two-thirds of the state’s coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.
The number of new cases has risen in the past few weeks. The report today marks the second highest number since May 22 and it’s the third time the state has reported more than 800 new daily cases in the past week.
For perspective, the numbers remain well below the peak days in the spring, when the state regularly reported more than 1,000 new cases per day. Fewer people are being treated in hospitals compared to the spring, although the state is reporting an uptick of COVID-19 patients in hospitals.
Nonetheless, the health department data shows an uptick in cases since mid-June. And the health department said more young adults are getting infected.
June 18-24: 3,373 new cases, an average of 481 per day
June 25-July 1: 4,051 new cases, an average of 578 per day
July 2-8: 4,906 new cases, an average of 700 per day
The health department said 118,128 tests have been administered since July 1. There are 774,378 patients who have tested negative.
Younger adults getting infected
More young adults, including those between the ages of 19 and 24, are being diagnosed with COVID-19, the health department said this week.
Allegheny County has seen a spike in new cases in recent days, prompting local officials to close dine-in service at bars and restaurants, limiting operations to takeout and delivery. Many of the new cases being reported in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, involve young adults. The median age of the new cases in Allegheny County in recent days has ranged from 26 to 31.
Across Pennsylvania, the health department said Tuesday it is seeing “significant increases” in COVID-19 cases among adults 19 to 24 years old.
In most regions of Pennsylvania, those between 19 and 24 make up about 15 percent of all new cases so far in July, up from 5 to 7 percent of new cases in April. In southwestern Pennsylvania, about 30 percent of the new cases in July involve those 19-24 years old, the state health department said.
Allegheny County’s health department reported 230 new cases Wednesday; the median age of the new cases is 29.
Hospitals and nursing homes
The health department’s online dashboard reports 649 coronavirus patients are being treated in hospitals, which is far below the peak of about 2,800 during the spring.
But the number of hospitalizations has increased in recent days, up from just under 600 earlier this week.
The health department said 6,903 health care workers have been infected.
Across Pennsylvania, 4,663 coronavirus deaths have occurred In nursing and personal care homes, according to the health department.
There are 18,060 residents in long-term care facilities who have been infected with COVID-19, along with 3,380 employees. A total of 21,440 people have been infected in those facilities.
Cases have been found at 727 long-term care facilities in 55 counties.
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