Coronavirus deaths in Pennsylvania jumped by 78, state health officials said Tuesday, marking the largest one-day increase as the running case count surpassed 14,000.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine cautioned that there can be a delay in compiling data from over the weekend, meaning some numbers won’t make it into the Monday report.

“There is sometimes a lag time for the reporting of cases and, particularly, deaths into our data system,” she said. “Sometimes on Tuesday we see an increase reflecting that lag time over the weekend.”

The 1,579 new cases – recorded during Monday’s 24-hour period – bring the state’s total to 14,559 cases since the first was identified on March 6.

Levine said officials know they are undercounting the number of cases across the state because those with mild symptoms are being asked to stay home unless they need serious treatment.

“What we’re looking for – and the purpose of the mitigation strategies and the testing and the preparation of the health care system – is for a potential surge of very serious cases that would require hospitalization and significant medical care,” she said.

An antibody test will likely be used to look back and get an accurate count of how many actually had the virus, she said, but that will come later. Right now, she said, the priority is keeping the state’s health care system from collapsing under the weight of too many critically ill patients.

All of the state’s 67 counties now have at least one case of the virus: two cases were reported Tuesday in Elk County and one was reported in Jefferson County.

At least 664 health care workers have been infected, and 674 cases are in nursing homes.

The 78 newly reported deaths represent a nearly 50% increase, bringing the statewide total to 240.

Levine said most deaths have been in senior citizens over the age of 65, and most had at least one underlying condition.

Two of the newly reported deaths were in Allegheny County, where the death toll stands at six and the running case count is 689. In Westmoreland, officials reported 20 newly identified cases of the virus.

The age breakdown of those who have tested positive for covid-19:

​0-4: < 1%

​5-12: ​< 1%

​13-18: ​1%

​19-24: 7%

​25-49: ​42%

​50-64: ​29%

​65+: 20%

The age breakdown of those who have been hospitalized:

0-4: ​< 1%

​5-12: ​< 1%

​13-18: ​< 1%

​19-24: 1%

​25-49: 19%

​50-64: ​29%

​65+: ​51%

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