As vaccinations inch upward, Pennsylvania's covid cases continue lower

Pennsylvania continues to see a steady drop in cases of covid-19, with resulting deaths and hospitalizations following that downward trend.

As vaccinations continue, the coronavirus appears to be spreading at a slower rate even as more people gather in public without protective masks or social distancing.

The state on Friday reported 1,007 additional cases of covid-19. While not the lowest daily report of the week — 693 was Monday’s new cases — it still helped drop the seven-day case average to 1,027, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That average peaked at 10,597 back in mid-December and hasn’t been this low since Oct. 3. The state’s total since the start of the pandemic is 1,200,543 cases. Of the new cases, 632 are confirmed and 375 are listed as probable.

Allegheny County added 72 new covid cases, dropping its seven-day case average to an eight-month low of 65. Of those cases, 42 are confirmed and 30 are probable. The new cases ranged in age from 2 months to 96 years with a median age of 34 years.

The county has had a total of 101,175 cases.

Westmoreland County reported 24 additional cases to bring the total to 34,073. Of the new cases, just two are confirmed and 22 are considered probable. The county’s seven-day average is 28 cases, the lowest since Oct. 4.

Health officials define a probable case as one in which a patient has a positive viral antigen test or covid symptoms with a “high-risk exposure” to someone who has been confirmed to have coronavirus.

Vaccinations

Of Pennsylvania’s total population, 7,368,901 (57.6%) have at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna covid vaccines or the single-shot Johnson & Johnson, while 5,462,969 (42.7%) are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Looking at residents ages 18 and older, 7,144,947 (70.3%) are covered by at least one dose and 5,401,811 (53.1%) are fully protected.

Allegheny County has 741,241 people (60.59%) with at least one dose of a vaccine and 542,617 (44.36%) are fully vaccinated against covid-19.

In Westmoreland County, 170,062 residents (46.57%) have received at least one dose and 134,930 (36.95%) are completely vaccinated.

Hospitalizations

There are 1,107 patients hospitalized statewide for covid-19, 45 fewer than yesterday, according the data from the Department of Health. With just a few exceptions, covid-related hospitalizations have been dropping daily since the middle of April. Of those hospitalized for covid, 278 patients are in intensive care units and 162 are using ventilators.

Allegheny County has 107 people in hospitals for covid-19, with 27 in the ICU and 19 breathing with ventilators.

Westmoreland County hospitals have 17 covid patients and four of them are in the ICU and the same number on ventilators.

Deaths

The state on Friday recorded 24 additional deaths related to covid-19, lowering the seven-day average to 197. It is the third consecutive day the average has been bellow 200, something not seen since early April. Of the 24 deaths newly reported Friday, 23 are from May and one is from April.

Allegheny County reported just one death related to the coronavirus, according to the county Health Department. The person was in their 90s. The seven-day average has dropped to 12 deaths, the lowest in more than three weeks.

Westmoreland County reported one covid-related death and has not reported more than two in the past 12 days.