Pennsylvania's covid cases, hospitalizations continue to drop as more get vaccinated

Cases of covid-19 continue to trend downward in Pennsylvania, decreasing related hospitalizations and deaths.

The state on Saturday added 2,610 cases, staying below 4,000 for the eighth consecutive day, according to data from the Department of Health. The seven-day average sank to 2,598 cases, the lowest since it was 2,570 on March 17. The case total is 1,172,288 since the pandemic began. Of the new cases, 1,753 are confirmed and 857 are listed as probable.

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.

Allegheny County on Saturday added 246 cases, the most recorded in a day since last Saturday’s 270, but the seven-day average of 207 cases is the lowest since it was that same 207 on Nov. 8. The county has seen 98,969 cases overall.

Of the new cases, 147 are confirmed and 99 are probable, according to the county Health Department. They ranged in age from 4 months to 94 years.

The reported cases ticked upward Saturday in Westmoreland County. The 116 additional cases were more than the 53 added Thursday and the 68 on Friday, so the seven-day average crept upward to 84 cases. The county’s total is 33,295 covid cases.

Vaccinations

Pennsylvania has 4,507,142 people fully vaccinated for covid-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s 35.2% of the total population. There are 4,486,007 people in the state who are 18 or older and have been fully vaccinated. That’s 44.1% of that population. The CDC reports 6,647,012 Pennsylvanians, or 51.9%, are at least partially protected with at least one dose. The state ranks 10th among all 50 states for first doses administered by percentage of population.

In Allegheny County, 465,906 people (38.08%) are fully vaccinated and 689,676 (56.38%) are protected by at least one dose.

Westmoreland County is 31.98% fully vaccinated (116,767 people) and 43.15% (157,580 people) have at least one dose of vaccine.

Deaths

The state on Saturday added 38 new covid-related deaths, keeping the seven-day average below 300 for the eighth day in a row, according to data from the Department of Health. The total has reached 26,532 deaths attributed to covid-19.

Allegheny County added four new deaths, all from May. One was associated with a long-term care home. Two people were in their 50s, one was in their 60s and one was in their 70s. The county has recorded 1,900 covid-related deaths.

Westmoreland reported a single death to bring the seven-day total down to three deaths for the first time since April 5. The county’s total is 748 deaths attributed to covid-19.

Hospitalizations

There are currently 1,924 people in the state hospitalized with covid-19, the fewest since late March. Of those patients, 427 are in intensive care units and 242 are using ventilators, according to the Department of Health.

Allegheny County has 180 people hospitalized with 64 in the ICU and 32 breathing with ventilators. There have been 6,867 covid hospitalizations in the county.

There are 29 covid patients hospitalized in Westmoreland County and six of them are in the ICU with just one using a ventilator.