Pa. surpasses 1,000 covid cases a day for 1st time since May

As of Tuesday’s covid update from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the state is now averaging more than 1,000 cases per day for the first time in over two months.

The latest update shows 1,442 new coronavirus cases reported statewide, bringing the daily average to 1,043. It’s the first time the average has been in four digits since May 28, when the daily average was 1,027.

Less than a month ago, on July 9, the daily average had dropped to just 173. Since then, the average has swelled by more than 500%.

In the past week, health officials have reported 7,304 new cases, 5,593 of which were confirmed through PCR tests and 1,711 of which were listed as probable. Among Tuesday’s newest cases, 1,162 were confirmed, 280 probable.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the delta variant is the dominant strain in the United States.

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In Allegheny County, the latest report shows 151 new cases, pushing the average to 110 cases per day. That’s the highest it’s been since May 18 (166). Among the new cases, 88 cases were confirmed, 63 listed as probable.

There were 31 new cases reported in Westmoreland County, bringing the average there to 26 per day. The last time Westmoreland was at that level was on May 29. Of the new ones, there were 19 confirmed, 12 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.

While still relatively low, covid-related deaths in Pennsylvania are slowly starting to rise as well. On Tuesday, the state reported 11 deaths. Westmoreland County has reported two deaths in the past two days, after having reporting two deaths in the previous 28 days. Allegheny County did not release death information Tuesday.

Hospitalizations for covid in the state jumped by 56 to 563. In Allegheny County, 72 residents are hospitalized — an increase of seven in the past week. In Westmoreland seven residents are hospitalized, a jump of four in the past week.

Vaccinations appear to be trending upward as well — not just in Pennsylvania, but in the country. According to the CDC, first doses of a covid vaccine are up 4.4% from July 23 to 30.

In Pennsylvania, 6,729,912 — 52.6% of all residents — have been fully vaccinated, while 8,428,764 (65.8%) have at least one shot. Among those 18 and older, 6,429,425 (63.3%) have been fully vaccinated, with 7,993,817 (78.6%) having at least one dose.

In Allegheny County, 675,098 residents (55.2%) are fully vaccinated, while 738,102 (60.3%) have at least one shot. Among adults, those figures are 74.1% and 67.8%, respectively.

In Westmoreland County, 158,490 residents (43.4%) are fully vaccinated, while 172,641 (47.3%) have at least one shot. Among adults, those figures are 53.1% and 57.8%, respectively.