Pennsylvania reports 75 more deaths, 837 new coronavirus cases

Megan Guza
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 12:13 p.m. | Tuesday, May 12, 2020 12:13 p.m.

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Christopher Dolan | The Times-Tribune via AP

Tommy Doherty, 20, of Scranton wears a mask as he racks weights at 10X Fitness in Scranton, Pa. on Monday, May 11, 2020. The gym opened on Monday for free use by the community in defiance of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s statewide ban on the operation of gyms and fitness centers.

State health officials reported more than 800 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday along with dozens more deaths as the statewide death toll surpassed 3,800.

The 837 covid-19 cases reported between 12 a.m. Monday and 12 a.m. Tuesday brought the state’s running case count to 57,991. Statewide, there were 75 more deaths, bringing the statewide total to 3,806.

Two dozen counties moved into the yellow phase of the state’s tiered reopening plan last week, and 13 more – including Allegheny and Westmoreland counties – will do so on Friday.

In Allegheny County, the 15 new cases reported by health officials bring the countywide total to 1,526. Officials also reported four more deaths for a total of 127. In Westmoreland County, the case count stands at 419, and the county coroner has recorded 32 covid-19 deaths.

Statewide, 237,989 people have tested negative for the virus.

Long-term care facilities across the state reported hundreds of new cases on Tuesday. While the number of affected facilities remained at 540, they reported nearly 330 new cases for a total of 12,130. Just over 2,600 residents in those facilities have died, and 1,724 employees have also contracted the virus.

State data show that 97 care home residents in Allegheny County have died from the virus, which has affected 36 facilities countywide. About 363 residents have tested positive for covid-19 along with 104 employees.

In Westmoreland, there have been 134 cases among residents in nine care homes, and 34 employees have contracted the virus. Twenty-seven residents have died.

Outbreaks in long-term care facilities have become a focal point over the past month as the case counts continued to grow. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced Tuesday afternoon long-term care facilities will begin testing all residents and employees. Facilities will also be required, starting Sunday, to report the number of cases, deaths and tests to the Department of Health. The department will make the data publicly available.