The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 631 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, raising the statewide total to 103,396.
Across Pennsylvania, 7,063 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, including 25 newly reported fatalities Wednesday. About two-thirds of the state’s coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.
While the state’s report Wednesday represents the smallest number of new cases since July 13, Gov. Tom Wolf and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine have said they are concerned about the rising number of new cases in recent weeks. They are urging Pennsylvania residents to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.
A closer look
The health department’s report Wednesday did not include data from Philadelphia; the agency said it didn’t receive statistics from the city.
The number of new cases remains below the peak seen in the spring, when the state regularly reported well over 1,000 new cases per day. In addition, fewer people are dying or requiring hospital treatment.
Still, coronavirus cases have risen in the past few weeks, as health department figures show.
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
July 9-15: 5,517 new cases, an average of 788 per day
July 16-22: 5,731 new cases, an average of 818 per day
The state has seen over 1,000 daily cases three times in July, after going nearly two months without hitting that mark (May 10-July 9).
The state has performed 148,209 tests between July 15 and July 21. There were 21,776 tests run trhough 10 p.m. Tuesday. Since March, there are 968,081 people who have tested negative.
Citing the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, Wolf imposed new restrictions on bars and restaurants last week; occupancy is limited to 25 percent and consumers must order food to buy alcoholic drinks. Wolf also ordered caps on gatherings: 25 people for indoor gatherings and 250 for outdoor events.
Wolf has also stressed the importance of suppressing the spread of the virus as schools prepare to open in the fall. Wolf closed schools in mid-March, forcing students to spend the rest of the year working remotely.
The governor has said he wants students to be able to attend classes for face-to-face instruction but supports local school districts in making the decision to go with in-person classes, remote learning or a hybrid of the two options.
“The plan is for every district to make their own decision,” Wolf said in a news conference Tuesday. “We want to keep teachers, students and administrators safe.”
Hospitalizations
The health department’s online dashboard reports 735 COVID-19 patients are being treated in hospitals. For context, about 2,800 people were hospitalized in the spring.
Nonetheless, the number of patients being treated in hospitals has risen in July. Earlier this month, about 600 patients were being treated in hospitals, the department said.
Most of those infected with the coronavirus endure relatively mild symptoms and can recover at home. However, the virus poses greater risks for seniors and those with health complications.
About 75 percent of those infected in Pennsylvania have recovered, according to health department estimates. The department considers individuals to have recovered when they are 30 days beyond the date of infection or the onset of symptoms.
Statewide, 7,682 health care workers have been infected.
Nursing homes
Across Pennsylvania, 4,829 coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and personal care homes, according to state data.
The health department said 18,486 residents of those facilities have contracted COVID-19, along with 3,675 employees. A total of 22,161 people in long-term care facilities have been infected.
Cases have been found at 797 long-term facilities in 60 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
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