New covid cases still high in Pennsylvania, but data show signs of surge easing

While Pennsylvania continues to see new covid cases at higher numbers than last month, there are signs that the surge is easing a bit.

In the state Department of Health’s latest two-day report of new cases released Monday, the state added 6,450 new cases — 3% fewer new cases than last week’s two-day report (6,651). Also, for the first time since March 8, the state’s seven-day average of new covid-19 cases has dropped from the previous Monday. Currently, the state’s seven-day case average is 4,289. One week ago, it was 4,305.

On the vaccine front, Gov. Tom Wolf and the state’s Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force announced that, effective Tuesday, all Pennsylvanians age 16 and older will be eligible to schedule an appointment for a vaccine.

“We need to maintain acceleration of the vaccine rollout, especially as case counts and hospitalization rates have increased,” Wolf said in a press release. “Therefore, just as President Biden has brought forward universal adult access to vaccines from May 1 to April 19, we are moving Pennsylvania’s timeline of universal adult access to April 13.”

Health officials said there is ongoing appointment availability in many parts of the state even as Phase 1C residents were added on Monday.

“Everyone needs and should be afforded the opportunity to access the vaccine as soon as possible,” Acting Sec. of Health Alison Beam said. “And, this change provides earlier access for many, including college students increasing the likelihood of completion of two-dose regimens prior to leaving campus for the summer. It also means simpler, streamlined operations for vaccine providers that no longer need to check eligibility of people making appointments.”

Cases

Of the state’s newest cases, 5,327 are considered confirmed through PCR testing, while 1,123 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.

Since the pandemic began, Pennsylvania has reported a total of 1,075,424 covid cases, with 912,708 of them confirmed.

Allegheny County added 717 new covid cases in the new two-day report, with 544 of them confirmed and 173 listed as probable. New cases ranged in age from 4 months to 97 years with a median age of 30 years.

The age breakdown for Allegheny County’s newest cases — 367 female, 350 male — are:

• Ages 0-4: 23
• Ages 5-12: 56
• Ages 13-18: 85
• Ages 19-24: 110
• Ages 25-49: 271
• Ages 50-64: 122
• Ages 65 and over: 50

This week’s two-day total of new cases in Allegheny County was just over 37% more than last week’s report (522) and over 160% more than one month ago (275).

Since the pandemic began, Allegheny has recorded a total of 90,634 covid cases, with 69,819 of them confirmed.

In Westmoreland County, there were 248 new cases added in the two-day report released Monday, with 131 of them confirmed and 117 listed as probable. The numbers were nearly 120% higher than last week’s report (113) and over 225% higher than one month ago (76).

Since the pandemic began, Westmoreland has logged a total of 30,666 covid cases, with 21,096 of them confirmed.

Philadelphia County had the most new cases in the two-day period with 930. They were followed by Allegheny (717), Montgomery 420), Bucks 380) and Lancaster 314).

Totals among Western Pennsylvania counties:

• Beaver 13,849 (+108)
• Washington 15,888 (+104)
• Fayette 11,733 (+93)
• Erie 19,190 (+79)
• Butler 15,921 (+72)
• Lawrence 6,886 (+37)
• Somerset 7,128 (+33)
• Indiana 5,588 (+31)
• Greene 3,013 (+22)
• Armstrong 5,372 (+13)

Deaths

Health officials added four new covid-related deaths in the two-day report. It is the lowest two-day death total in Pennsylvania since Sept. 28, when four deaths were also reported. The state’s seven-day death toll stands at 206, which is three more than on April 1 but 31 fewer than one month ago.

Of the four newly reported deaths, three are from April and one is from March.

The covid death toll in Pennsylvania now stands at 25,406.

There were no new covid-related deaths in the Allegheny County Health Department’s latest two-day report. On Monday, the state reported two new deaths, although reporting totals between the county and the state have been off for some time, without explanation. As of Monday, Allegheny County was reporting a total of 1,813 covid-related deaths while the state was reporting 1,842.

State health officials reported one new death in Westmoreland County in the two-day report, bringing the county’s death toll to 713. Westmoreland’s seven-day death toll stands at six; it was at five both on April 1 and one month ago.

Hospitalizations

Pennsylvania added 33 new covid patients to hospitals over the two-day period, with 2,474 currently in facilities. The 14-day average of patients is 2,290, which is 29.7% higher than on April 1 (1,766) and 47.6% higher than one month ago (1,552).

Of those hospitalized across the state, 534 are in intensive care units and 250 on ventilators.

In Allegheny County, eight patients were added to hospitals in the past two days, bringing the total to 284. Of those, 79 are in ICUs and 21 on ventilators. The county’s 14-day average is 255 — 39.3% higher than on April 1 (183) and 55.5% higher than one month ago (164).

In Westmoreland County, there were nine patients admitted to hospitals in the past two days, putting the total at 51. Of those, 13 are in ICUs and nine on ventilators. The county’s 14-day average is 34 — 47.8% higher than on April 1 (23). Because of an unexplained anomaly in data, numbers for one month ago are not available in Westmoreland.

Vaccinations

As Pennsylvania moved into vaccination Phase 1C on Monday — and one day before everyone age 16 and older becomes eligible, state data shows 38% of the population with at least one dose of a covid-19 immunization and nearly 22% fully vaccinated.

Phase 2 opens vaccine eligibility to anyone age 16 and older not covered in Phase 1. At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been approved for those ages 16 and 17.

With the latest data from the state, 4,823,734 people have received at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, while 2,765,014 people have received both doses or the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The amounts may be even greater as the data doesn’t yet include the latest numbers from Philadelphia, which records its own information on vaccinations.

In Allegheny County, 282,050 residents (23.1%) have received both shots, while 504,489 (41.2%) have at least one dose. In Westmoreland County, 73,315 residents (20.1%) have received both shots, while 126,338 residents (34.6%) have at least one dose.