After seeing numbers decline earlier in the summer, covid cases increased for a second straight month in Pennsylvania and Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

Cases

As of Wednesday’s covid report, the Pennsylvania Department of Health saw 22,269 new cases of covid-19 in the past seven days, averaging 3,181 cases per day. That’s a 13.3% increase from last Wednesday’s report.

Cases climbed in August with the state seeing 74,651 new cases during the month, a big increase (447%) from the number of new cases in seen in July (13,646).

To date, Pennsylvania has a total of 1,303,468 cases, with 1,086,144 confirmed.

In Allegheny County, there were 1,944 new cases in the past week, with the daily average at 278. These figures are about the same as last Wednesday.

During August, Allegheny County saw a total of 6,629 new cases for the month — this was much more than the number of cases in July (1,270) or June (611).

Since the pandemic began, Allegheny County has amassed 109,996 covid cases, with 82,653 confirmed.

In Westmoreland County, there were 614 new cases added in the past seven days, with the daily average at 88. Westmoreland County saw a total of 1,979 news cases for the month of August — also much more than the number of cases in July (312) or June (317).

In all, Westmoreland County has seen a total of 36,768 cases, of which 24,456 are confirmed.

Hospitalizations

According to OpenSource PA, the latest hospitalization numbers show there are 1,835 Pennsylvanians in facilities for covid-19, with 482 of those in intensive care units and 235 on ventilators. The number of hospitalizations statewide has increased by about 13% from last week (1,617), with the ICU numbers having risen by nearly 40% (332 last week).

Pennsylvania saw hospitalizations rise 291% in August, starting the month with 472 patients and ending with 1,850.

In Allegheny County, there are 247 residents currently hospitalized for covid, an increase of 10% from last week (224). Of those in hospitals this week, 88 are in ICUs and 34 on ventilators.

In Westmoreland County, there are 40 residents in hospitals for covid — a rise of 17% from a week ago (34). Of those hospitalized in the county, 15 are in ICUs and five are on ventilators.

Allegheny and Westmoreland counties both saw hospitalizations rise in August. Allegheny had 62 patients on Aug. 1, and ended with 250 patients on Aug. 31.

Westmoreland had three patients on Aug. 1, and ended with 37 patients on Aug. 31.

Deaths

In the past seven days, the state has reported 104 covid-related deaths, a nearly 8% decrease from a week ago (113 deaths for the week). In all, there have been 28,235 reported covid deaths in Pennsylvania.

In Allegheny County, officials announced four covid-related deaths in the past week. Of those, three occurred in August, while there was one from July. One of those who died was in the 25-49 age group and the others were 65 or older.

Westmoreland County saw three deaths in the past week, bringing the total to 795.

Vaccinations

In terms of vaccinations, there are currently 8,880,224 Pennsylvanians with at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine — that’s 69.4% of the entire state population. Of those considered fully vaccinated, there are 7,054,540 (55.1%). Among adults 18 and older, those percentages rise to 82.3% (at least one dose) and 65.9% (fully vaccinated).

In Allegheny County, there are 766,773 (62.7%) with at least one dose, and 696,459 (56.9%) fully vaccinated. Among adults, the percentages increase to 77% and 69.9%.

In Westmoreland County, there are 183,905 (50.4%) with at least one dose and 167,319 (45.8%) fully covered. Among adults, those percentages increase to 61.6% and 56%.

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