Pennsylvania adds 2nd lowest new covid case count in 2 months

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in more than a month on Monday.

The department added 384 new cases, the lowest since it posted 328 on July 13. It’s also only the second time since June 17 — exactly two months ago — the number was so low.

However, reporting delays prevented Philadelphia County — which often is one of the counties with the most new cases — from releasing its new data, so the day’s numbers are not complete. The state says two-day totals from Philadelphia will be added Tuesday.

Back in April and early May, the state saw new case numbers well above the 1,000 mark. Then, from mid-May through the first week of July, the numbers dropped into the hundreds each day. Most of July, the state saw its new daily case numbers go up, posting several days back in four digits.

For the past 20 days now, the state has returned to posting three-digit new case counts each day.

From Aug. 10-16, the state processed 165,521 tests with 5,608 individuals testing positive — for a positivity rate of 3.4%.

The state added no new deaths Monday. After posting 148 new deaths from Aug. 11-15, the state has added only three in the past two days. A total of 7,468 people have died from covid-19 in Pennsylvania.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 20,413 resident cases of covid-19, and 4,244 cases among employees, for a total of 24,657 at 895 distinct facilities in 61 counties. Out of the state’s total deaths, 5,059 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.

Without Philadelphia County’s numbers added, Allegheny County posted the most new cases (71), followed by Delaware (40), Montgomery (28), York (23) and Bucks (22). Nineteen counties posted no new cases.

“The mitigation efforts in place now are essential as the new school year approaches and we work to ensure our children can get back to learning,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and following the requirements set forth in the orders for bars and restaurants, gatherings and telework will help keep our case counts low. Together, as Pennsylvanians, we each have a part to play in working to ensure that cases of covid-19 remain low.”

The state currently lists 270 deaths in Allegheny County, while the county’s own health department lists 290 deaths, a discrepancy that’s been credited to different reporting methods between the county and the state.

There are 559 people currently hospitalized for covid-19 in Pennsylvania, according to the state’s covid-19 dashboard — 99 of them are on ventilators.

In all, Pennsylvania has seen 124,844 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began in March.