Health Department reports 13 more covid-19 deaths in Pennsylvania

Thirteen more people in Pennsylvania have died from covid-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 507, state health department officials said.

The total coronavirus case count is 22,833, according to data provided by the health department on Sunday.

“Now more than ever, as we continue to see covid-19 cases and deaths rise in Pennsylvania, we need Pennsylvanians to take action,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Those actions should be to stay calm, stay home and stay safe. If you must go out, please limit it to as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and our health care workers and frontline responders.”

There were no new deaths in Allegheny County from the coronavirus, leaving the countywide total at 19.

The state reported five new coronavirus cases in Westmoreland County and no new deaths, increasing the total of people who tested positive for the virus to 223. The number of deaths remained at six, according to state health department officials.

Westmoreland County Coroner Kenneth Bacha, who is critical of the state’s recording system, reported one additional coronavirus-related death late Saturday night.

Bacha said Friday morning that the county has 11 deaths and state officials were behind on their count. That number had increased to 12 deaths as of 11 p.m. Saturday.

Butler County reported one new death, bringing its total to four, and the county has seen 133 positive cases to date. Armstrong County reported no new deaths and one new coronavirus case, bringing its total to 27. Fayette County reported four new positive cases, but no new deaths, bringing its positive count to 54.

Somerset and Washington counties continued to have no reported deaths, but saw an increase in positive covid-19 cases. Somerset County reported 12 positive cases on Sunday, up from 10 on Saturday, and Washington County reported 68 positive cases, up from 66 on Saturday.

The 1,178 new positive cases reported Sunday brought the statewide total to 22,833. That’s about a 5.4% increase over the previous day’s statewide case count.

All people with covid-19 are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital, and most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, state health officials said.

Most of the covid-19 deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. No children have died from the virus in Pennsylvania, the state health department said.