Pennsylvania adds 1,208 new coronavirus cases, 62 more deaths

The state Department of Health on Friday added 62 more deaths to Pennsylvania’s coronavirus death toll along with another 1,208 positive cases.

The new deaths bring the state’s total to 2,354. Five of those deaths were in Allegheny County, where the total now stands at 99.

The 1,208 new covid-19 cases recorded Thursday bring the state’s running total to 46,971.

Across the state, 180,477 people have tested negative for the virus.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine has said the reported death toll does not include probable deaths – deaths that are attributed to covid-19 because the deceased showed symptoms and had contact with a confirmed case but was not tested for the virus.

The numbers came just hours before Gov. Tom Wolf was scheduled to announce which parts of the state can begin lifting pandemic-related restrictions on May 8. A majority of restrictions will still be in place – telework is encouraged, restaurants must remain take-out only – but the stay-at-home order in place for more than a month will be lifted for those areas.

Across the state, 2,677 covid-19 patients were hospitalized as of about noon, and 561 were on ventilators.

In Allegheny County, nursing home cases continued to grow. Cases across 34 long-term care facilities reached 296 by Friday, according to state numbers, and 77 residents have died. In addition to the residents, 93 employees at care facilities have tested positive.

Statewide there are 8,478 covid-19 cases in 474 long-term care facilities, and 1,560 have died. Another 1,097 employees at those facilities have contracted the virus.

Data regarding the race of positive patients in the state remains minimal – it’s not been reported for 66% of patients. Of the little data there is, it shows that 11% of patients have been African American, 22% have been white and 1% Asian.

More information is available regarding sex: 54% of the state’s cases have been women, and 1,130 women have died from the virus. Men make up 45% of the cases, and 1,212 have died. No information was reported for 1% of cases.