Covid cases tick up slightly in Pennsylvania, deaths trend downward

Pennsylvania recorded a slight increase in covid-19 cases but is seeing a downward trend in covid-related deaths and a drop in hospitalizations.

Pennsylvania

The state on Friday added 3,074 new covid cases, the most in a single day this month, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The seven-day average is 2,466 new cases, a number that has been trending lower since the start of the year.

The total is now 961,456 cases in the past year.

The state added 40 covid-related deaths for a seven-day total of 268, the lowest seven-day total since mid-November. The total number of covid-related deaths is now 24,530.

Pennsylvania has 1,463 people hospitalized for covid-19, the fewest since early November. Statewide hospitalizations have been trending downward since peaking at more than 6,300 in December.

Currently, there are 313 covid patients in intensive care units and 165 on ventilators.

Teachers and child care workers across the state are being offered the Johnson & Johnson covid vaccine in a program that started in Intermediate Units this week.

“As of today, 20 IU vaccination sites are operating across the state, with eight more scheduled to start tomorrow,” said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield in a release. “More than 6,500 doses have been administered at IU clinics so far.”

Allegheny County

Allegheny County on Friday reported 296 additional cases for a seven-day average of 235 cases, roughly where it has been since early February.

Of the new cases, 214 are confirmed via 941 new PCR tests, the most confirmed cases reported in a single day so far this month, according to the county Health Department. Four of the positive cases are more than a week old. The dates of the tests were Jan. 27 to March 11 and the ages of the patients ranged from one to 86.

The county reported nine additional covid-related deaths to bring the total to 1,731 over the past year. Of the new deaths, four were associated with long-term care homes. One of the deaths occurred in February, the rest in March. One person was in their 40s, three in their 70s, three in their 80s and two were in their 90s, according to the county.

Allegheny has 169 people hospitalized for covid-19 with 51 of those in intensive care units and 17 on ventilators.

There have been a total of 5,361 people hospitalized for covid-19 in the county.

Westmoreland County

Westmoreland added 66 covid cases, taking the seven-day average down to 58, where it has been for three of the past seven days. The county has totaled 27,494 cases since last March.

No additional covid-related deaths were reported, leaving the total to date at 688. It is the fourth day this month in which the county has reported no new deaths.

The county has 120 covid patients in hospitals with four in intensive care units and one on a ventilator.