Pennsylvania reports 2nd-highest new coronavirus case total since May
Pennsylvania added more than 1,300 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, its second-highest daily total since May.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, there were 1,309 positive cases of covid-19, bringing the state total to 166,552. Besides the two-day total of 2,251 reported on Oct. 3, it’s the highest daily total since 1,323 were reported on May 8.
The state also added 28 deaths on Wednesday, with one from August, 10 from September and 17 from October. Of those, three are from Allegheny County and two from Beaver County.
Forest County, just north of Clarion County, recorded its first death, leaving only three counties without a coronavirus-related death: Cameron, Potter and Sullivan.
Allegheny County had the most new cases in Southwestern Pennsylvania with 43 new positive results to bring the county’s total to 12,897. Here’s how the rest of the region fared, with total cases and growth from Tuesday:
- Armstrong: 476 (+3)
- Beaver: 1,995 (+2)
- Butler: 1,175 (+25)
- Fayette: 849 (+4)
- Indiana: 813 (+16)
- Somerset: 246 (+13)
- Washington: 1,469 (+4)
- Westmoreland: 2,539 (+39)
Across the state, Philadelphia had the most new cases with 186, followed by Delaware (85), Berks (69), York (68), Lancaster (60) and Northumberland (60).
According to the state’s covid-19 dashboard, there are currently 657 coronavirus patients hospitalized in the state. The state has 4,970 ventilators, with 1,154 currently in use, but only 80 by covid-19 patients.
There are 23,538 residents and 5,210 employees of nursing and personal care home who have been diagnosed with covid-19. Residents in those homes have accounted for 5,525 of the state’s deaths.
On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced increased gathering-size limits for events statewide, revealing a new formula that’s based on a percentage of a facility’s capacity instead of the 25-person indoor and 250-person outdoor restrictions imposed previously. Indoor events are limited to 10% to 20% of capacity, depending upon the venue’s size, and outdoor events can admit 15% to 25%. The largest venues are capped at 3,750 individuals indoors and 7,500 outdoors.
Mike Palm is a TribLive digital producer who also writes music reviews and features. A Westmoreland County native, he joined the Trib in 2001, where he spent years on the sports copy desk, including serving as night sports editor. He has been with the multimedia staff since 2013. He can be reached at mpalm@triblive.com.
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