Coronavirus in Pennsylvania: 2.7 million vaccines given out; daily cases linger below 3,000

Gov. Wolf tours Rite Aid where COVID-19 vaccine is administered

Gov. Tom Wolf greets Robert Morris who was waiting for his mother Darlene Morris of Highspire, at right, to receive her COVID-19 vaccine. Jocelyn Konrad, Rite-Aid executive vice president and chief pharmacy officer, at right, accompanies Wolf. Gov. Tom Wolf tours a Rite Aid in Steelton where COVID-19 vaccines are administered. March 5, 2021. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

The Pennsylvania Department of Health says nearly 2 million people in the state have been at least partially vaccinated against the virus so far as 2.77 million doses have gone into arms.

It also reported via its COVID alert app on Saturday 2,789 new coronavirus cases and 55 more deaths.

Statewide, 24,317 total deaths have been tied to the virus, and 946,985 people have contracted COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic a year ago.

As masking and group limit mandates continue, the number of daily infections and hospitalizations have dropped steadily in recent weeks. The health department said 1,513 COVID-19 patients were being treated in hospitals Saturday. That’s barely a fourth of what hospitals saw around Christmas and New Year’s.

Vaccines are being distributed. So far, 1.9 million first shots have been administered, Pa. officials said, and 868,000 people have gotten a required second shot. A one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is on its way, too, and will first go to teachers and child care workers.

Of the roughly 256,000 people who’ve had a coronavirus test in the seven days ending March 4, 5.7% were positive. That’s significantly lower than it was two months ago. Anything over 5% shows worrisome community spread of COVID-19.

Most of the patients hospitalized, and most of those who’ve died in the pandemic, are ages 65 or older, the state said.

The health department reports 91% of people who have contracted the coronavirus have recovered. The state considers patients to have recovered when they are 30 days past the point of infection or the onset of symptoms.

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