Pennsylvania reports 464 more covid-19 cases, 4 more deaths

Pennsylvania state health officials on Sunday reported four more covid-19 deaths and 464 additional cases, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 81,730.

A total of 6,423 people have died from the virus. There are 631 patients who have a positive serology test and either covid-19 symptoms or a high-risk exposure, which are considered probable cases and not confirmed cases, state health officials said.

Nursing and personal care homes account for roughly 25% of the total cases and 68% of the total deaths.

Approximately 6,212 of the total cases are in health care workers.

More than 576,000 people statewide have tested negative for the virus.

According to state health officials, 20,113 covid-19 cases have been reported at 663 nursing and personal care facilities in 49 counties. Of those, 17,066 are resident cases and 3,047 are employee cases.

More than 4,300 nursing and personal care home residents have died from the virus.

As of Sunday, all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties were in the yellow or green phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s three-tiered reopening plan.

State health officials reminded residents that masks are required in all businesses in counties in the yellow and green phases of reopening. According to state health officials, consistent mask wearing, even in counties that are in the green phase, could have lasting positive effects as a covid-19 surge is possible this fall.

“With more than half of the state now in the green phase of the process to reopen, it is essential that we continue to take precautions to protect against covid-19,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in a Sunday statement.

“The commonwealth’s careful, measured approach to reopening is working as we see case counts continue to decline even as many other states see increases. But the virus has not gone away. Each of us has a responsibility to continue to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently. Together we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our health care system.”