Pa. sees most covid cases since January with majority reported in eastern counties

Pennsylvania on Tuesday reached a level of reported covid cases that hasn’t been seen since January.

But of these additional cases, the majority of them are coming from a specific region of the state, while Pittsburgh-area cases continue within current ranges.

Cases

Pennsylvania reported 6,638 additional covid-19 cases Tuesday (4,215 confirmed, 2,423 probable), according to the state Department of Health. That case count represents the most cases reported since late January (9,643 cases were reported Jan. 29.)

But where these cases were reported is also something to note. There were 3,748 cases, 56% of Tuesday’s case count, reported in 10 counties in the eastern part of the state. In that region, here’s how many cases those counties had:

Philadelphia - 650

Berks - 550

Montgomery - 462

Bucks - 417

Delaware - 378

Lancaster - 304

Chester - 262

Northhampton - 248

Lehigh - 244

York - 233

The state’s covid case total since the pandemic began is now 1,082,062.

Allegheny County had the fourth most reported cases of Pennsylvania counties Tuesday. The county reported 430 cases, of which 254 were confirmed and 176 probable, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. New cases range in age from 6 months to 95, with a median age of 33. Total cases are now 91,064 in the county.

Westmoreland County reported 171 cases (70 confirmed and 101 probable) on Tuesday, bringing its total cases to 30,837.

Hospitalizations

The state had 2,541 covid-19 patients hospitalized as of Tuesday, according to the Department of Health. To this point in April, there has been an increase in covid hospitalizations in 12 of the 13 days so far this month. Hospitalizations throughout the state are up about 22% since the beginning of month. The state’s current level of hospitalizations rivals mid-February levels, when hospitalizations were in the 2,500-range.

Like Pennsylvania’s total hospitalizations, Allegheny County has seen an increase in 11 of the 13 days so far in April. There were 299 covid patients hospitalized as of Tuesday, up about 37% since the start of the month.

With four consecutive days of increases, Westmoreland County’s hospitalization total grew to 62 on Tuesday. That number is nearly triple what the county started the month with, as 23 people were hospitalized for covid-19 on April 1.

Vaccinations

Covid vaccination appointments became available to all Pennsylvania adults on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, the state has 1,842,483 people partially and 2,448,072 fully vaccinated. Those numbers do not include Philadelphia County which handles its own data and distribution. Pennsylvania started the month with 1,830,605 people fully vaccinated and that number has grown by more than 500,000 in about two weeks.

Starting April with 213,263 people fully vaccinated, there are now 285,717 people fully vaccinated in Allegheny County, which represents about 23% of the county. There are 228,094 people partially vaccinated in the county.

Westmoreland County has 52,665 people partially and 75,771 fully vaccinated for covid-19 as of Tuesday. The number of those fully vaccinated represents about 20.75% of the county.

Deaths

The state on Tuesday reported 66 additional covid deaths, per the Department of Health. Of those deaths, 55 are from April, nine are from March, one is from February and one is from December. Pennsylvania’s death total now stands at 25,472.

In Allegheny County, there was one additional covid death reported, bringing its total to 1,814 deaths. The person in their 60s died in April and was not associated with a long-term care facility, according to the county Health Department.

Two additional covid deaths were reported Tuesday in Westmoreland County. The county’s death total now stands at 715.