New Pennsylvania coronavirus cases increase sharply; 49 more deaths reported

New coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania jumped by more than 1,700, a marked increase in new daily cases compared to the past week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Friday.

State health officials also reported 49 more deaths, bringing the statewide death toll of 756.

The Department of Health recorded 1,706 new cases of the virus throughout the day Thursday – the highest number of new cases since April 10 when 1,751 were reported.

New case counts were below 1,400 every day this week, and Wednesday and Thursday saw fewer than 1,200 new cases.

Cases across the state now total 29,441 since the first positive test on March 6.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said the bump could be because of a lag in test results during Passover, Good Friday and Easter.

Allegheny County on Friday reported five more deaths and added 22 new cases, bringing the totals to 43 and 947.

In Westmoreland County, the death toll continued to differ from state numbers to county numbers. The coroner’s office continued to report 19 deaths, while the state reported 13. State health officials have said they are looking into the discrepancy. The Department of Health reported nine new cases in the county.

Levine noted the continued spread of the virus in the state’s long-term care facilities: 321 facilities have at least one case of covid-19, and nursing home residents make up 3,716 of the state’s cases. Nearly 400 care-facility residents have died from the virus.

Along with residents, 420 care facility employees have been infected.

Stopping the spread of the virus once it is in a facility is difficult, she said.

“Once you start to have cases (in a care home), preventing the spread is challenging but it can be done,” Levine said.

Strict adherence to using personal protective equipment is key, she said. Residents who test positive for the virus should be moved to the same area, and specific staff members should care only for those residents

Age breakdown of positive cases:

0-4: ​< 1%

​5-12: ​< 1%

​13-18: ​1%

​19-24: 6%

​25-49: ​40%

​50-64: ​29%

​65+: ​23%

Age breakdown of hospitalizations:

​0-29: ​1.9%

30-49: 4.8%

50-64: 9.2%

​65-79: 20.4%

​80+: 21.5%