6,000+ new COVID-19 cases reported in Pennsylvania over last 2 days

PENNSYLVANIA — As COVID-19 cases spike in Pennsylvania, the state reported 6,311 new ones and Allegheny County reported 530 in the last 48 hours.

The states new numbers include 3,402 new cases reported Monday and 2,909 reported Sunday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The statewide total is now 234,296.

Statewide, nine new deaths were reported. Five were reported Saturday and four were reported Sunday, bringing the total to 9,024 deaths.

County-specific information and a statewide map are available HERE.

During Monday’s press conference, Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of the Pa. Department of Health, urged people not to get together with family and friends this holiday season -- despite how tempting it may seem.

“This is a call for action for everyone in Pa. COVID-19 is right here, and we are at tipping point. We all need to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus,” she said. “If we don’t, we put ourselves, our families and communities and health systems at risk.”

Johns Hopkins University Dr. Amesh Adalja’s idea instead was to come up with a plan to make the holidays safer, such as wearing masks when you aren’t eating, social distancing and possibly holding the gathering outside.

Levine cited the increase of cases and community spread in our region as evidence for avoiding all gatherings. It’s also to avoid spreading the virus to vulnerable categories, such as children.

Levine said there have been 60 children across Pa. who have developed multi-system inflammatory illness. According to the CDC, it is a condition in which different parts of the body can become inflamed -- including the heart, brain, skin and gastrointestinal organs.

Most children with this condition have been exposed to COVID-19 and were previously healthy.

Increases among 19 to 24-year-olds from April to present in November are available below:

• NC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to nearly 23 percent of cases so far in November;
• NE – 6 percent of cases in April to nearly 14 percent of cases so far in November;
• SE – Nearly 5 percent of cases in April to 11 percent of cases so far in November;
• SW – Approximately 5 percent of cases in April to nearly 11 percent of cases so far in November;
• NW – Nearly 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 11 percent of cases so far in November; and
• SC – Approximately 7 percent of cases in April to approximately 9 percent of cases so far in November.

Allegheny County’s number is the largest two-day total yet.

Of the new cases released Monday, 427 are confirmed cases and 103 are probable cases, according to the Allegheny County Health Department.

New cases range in age from 1 month to 102 years old. Sixty of the cases are under the age of 18.

The dates of positive tests ranged from Nov. 2 to Nov. 8.

No new deaths were reported.

Since March 14, there have been 17,656 cases of COVID-19 in Allegheny County residents, 1,533 hospitalizations and 447 deaths.

6,000+ new COVID-19 cases reported in Pennsylvania over last 2 days

Cox Media Group