Pennsylvania coronavirus deaths top 100 as state reports 1,404 new cases

Megan Guza | Friday, April 3, 2020 12:06 p.m.

Pennsylvania Public Health Laboratory via Gov. Tom Wolf

Pennsylvania Commonwealth microbiologist Kerry Pollard performs a manual extraction of the coronavirus inside the extraction lab at the Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories on Friday, March 6, 2020.

Twelve more people died of coronavirus complications in Pennsylvania, bringing the state’s total to 102, and the state reported 1,404 new cases Friday, health officials said.

The number of total cases in Pennsylvania now stands at 8,420. The 1,404 new cases mark the largest single-day increase since the state reported its first two cases March 6.

The new total includes 57 new cases in Allegheny County and 26 new cases in Westmoreland County, which marked Westmoreland’s biggest single-day increase.

Cases in Fayette County rose to 20 and in Washington County to 40. One new case was reported in Indiana County, which now has seven. Somerset remained at three cases, and Greene County remained at 11.

Beaver County saw a jump of 10 cases to 65, and Butler County cases increased from 69 to 75.

Cases in Philadelphia spiked by more than 400, jumping to 2,284 in Friday’s update.

Clinton County in north-central Pennsylvania reported its first case, meaning 63 of the state’s 67 counties have now reported at least one case.

The Department of Health is not tracking recoveries or recovery time.

Pennsylvania Health Department Secretary Rachel Levine said 53,695 people have tested negative statewide, meaning the positive rate is about 13%.

Of the positive cases, 852 people have required hospitalization – about 10% of all patients with the virus. Of those hospitalized, 241 were admitted to an intensive care unit, and 147 needed the help of a breathing machine.

Health care workers represent 419 cases, she said.

The Department of Health has been working with nursing homes and other long-term care facilities as the virus continues to crop up in facilities statewide, Levine said.

“We’re looking to contract with a company that will help us and serve as almost a nursing home SWAT team to go out and help (facilities) that might be having difficulties and helping them with their infection control,” she said.

Here is a breakdown of the ages of patients who have tested positive to date:

• 0-4: 1%

• 5-12: 1%

• 13-18: 1%

• 19-24: 8%

• 25-49: 41%

• 50-64: 29%

• 65 and older