Fewer than 4,600 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Pennsylvania as of Sunday, one of several hopeful indicators.
Hospitalizations are well below the peak of about 6,300 that followed the Thanksgiving holiday, when COVID-19 patients pushed some hospitals near the breaking point. The number in intensive care, 945 as of Sunday, also was well below the peak.
The state said Monday there were 4,045 new COVID-19 infections — another figure that’s well below the mid-December peak of 12,000-plus new infections daily. However, Monday figures are often artificially low because of weekend lags in testing and processing results.
The state reported 80 new deaths as of Monday, raising Pennsylvania’s toll to 19,390 since the start of the pandemic a year ago. The new infections raise the state’s total to 771,845 confirmed and probable infections.
The state’s rate of positive tests, 12.7% as of the week ending Friday, also has been falling. However, a rate of 5% or more is considered cause for alarm, health experts say.
Pennsylvania officials have noted the declining numbers but remained cautious, saying the disease continues to pose a serious threat and people must keep their guard up by continuing to wear face masks in public, wash hands frequently and avoid large gatherings. The state has administered about 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, but has yet to deliver a first dose to everyone in long term care, considered to be at highest risk. The state also plans to soon make vaccine available to everyone over 65 and younger people with chronic medical conditions, but as of Monday had yet to announce when and how that will happen.