Pennsylvania adds 570 coronavirus cases to its total

The Pennsylvania Department of Health added 570 positive covid-19 cases and 24 deaths on Wednesday.

The new cases bring the state’s total to 126,149.

The health department added 24 deaths to its totals, with 21 from August, two from July and one from April. The state’s death total now sits at 7,523.

The state currently lists 277 deaths in Allegheny County, while the county’s own health department lists 297 deaths, a discrepancy attributed to different reporting methods between the sate and county.

Covid-19 continues to hit older Pennsylvanians the hardest. Residents 70 or older account for about 18% of the total cases but nearly 79% of the state’s deaths.

There are currently 20,458 cases of coronavirus among residents at nursing and personal care homes, with 4,298 cases among employees. Those same facilities account for 5,104 of the state’s deaths.

In western Pennsylvania, Allegheny County saw the most new cases, with 27, the lowest since June 23. Here’s a look at the rest of the area, with the total cases reported Wednesday and the change from Tuesday.

• Armstrong — 250 (+5)
• Beaver — 1,437 (+14)
• Butler — 732 (+3)
• Fayette — 639 (+8)
• Indiana — 374 (+15)
• Somerset — 145 (+2)
• Washington — 930 (+6)
• Westmoreland — 1,658 (+18)

According to state data, there are 548 coronavirus patients currently hospitalized with 94 requiring ventilators.

On Tuesday, the Department of Health announced it will launch a mobile app in September that will use Bluetooth technology to assist state officials in contact tracing efforts, to curb the spread of covid-19.