Pennsylvania's weekly covid cases at highest point in nearly 3 months

In the past week, Pennsylvania has recorded 11,747 cases of covid-19 — the most in nearly three months.

The cases — 8,927 of which were confirmed through a PCR test and 2,820 counted as probable — represent a significant increase since as recently as July 1, when a week’s worth of cases had dropped to as low as 174.

Hospitalizations are also rising, although not at the rapid pace of cases. Currently, the state’s seven-day average of hospitalized covid patients is at 791. On July 1, that number was 338.

In the past week, the state has reported 51 covid-related deaths, which is lower than it was on July 1 — with 60 reported. However, deaths have been rising since Aug. 1, when 28 were reported in a week’s time.

Cases

With Thursday’s report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the state is now averaging 1,678 cases per day. Thursday’s report of 2,089 new cases is the highest since May 15 (2,210).

To date, Pennsylvania has reported 1,243,932 cases, 1,039,144 of which have been confirmed through PCR tests. 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.

Allegheny County has reported 1,179 covid cases in the past week, with 773 of them confirmed, 406 probable. The county is averaging 168 cases per day. In total, there have been 105,045 covid cases in Allegheny County, with 79,240 confirmed.

The CDC is reporting that — from Aug. 4-10 — the positivity rate in the county was 5.16%, with testing up 47%.

In Westmoreland County, there were 278 new covid cases reported in the past week, with 156 confirmed and 122 probable. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Westmoreland has seen a total of 35,164 cases, with 23,547 confirmed.

The positivity rate in Westmoreland was 5.14% from Aug. 4-10, with a 50% increase in the level of testing.

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pennsylvania no longer has any counties with a low level of coronavirus transmission.

Among the 67 counties, 15 are at the moderate transmission level, 37 rated substantial and 15 in the high level.

Here’s a look at the total covid case numbers for other Western Pennsylvania counties, along with the increase there in the past week:

• Armstrong 6,099 (+36)
• Beaver 16,060 (+194)
• Butler 18,078 (+172)
• Fayette 13,656 (+108)
• Indiana 6,601 (+71)
• Somerset 8,205 (+40)
• Washington 18,445 (+208)

Hospitalizations

There are 935 patients currently hospitalized for covid-19 in Pennsylvania’s hospitals, according to the latest data from OpenSource PA. That’s up from just 472 at the start of the month. There are currently 226 patients in intensive care units, with 108 of them on ventilators.

In Allegheny County, there are 135 people hospitalized, with 38 in ICUs and 26 on ventilators.

In Westmoreland County, 14 people are hospitalized, with three in ICUs and three on ventilators.

Deaths

Of the state’s 51 deaths this past week, the majority (39) were from August. Nine deaths occurred in July, and there was one each in May, February and December 2020.

In 2021, Pennsylvania has reported 10,054 covid-related deaths, with nearly two-thirds happening in January and February. To date, the state’s death toll since the beginning of the pandemic is 27,941.

Officials with the Allegheny County Health Department have reported seven deaths in the past week. One person was in the 25-49 age group, one in the 50-64 age group and five in the 65+ age group. Six of the deaths occurred in August, with one in July.

To date, the county has reported 2,005 covid-related deaths. However, the state has consistently been reporting a slightly higher total: 2,035. No accounting for the discrepancy has been addressed.

In Westmoreland County, officials have reported no deaths in the past week. Since July 1, the county has seen seven covid-related deaths. To date, there have been 784 covid-related deaths in the county.

Vaccinations

According to the CDC’s latest numbers, Pennsylvania has vaccinated 8,562,645 people with at least one dose of a covid vaccine — 66.9% of all the state’s residents. There are 6,814,649 (53.2%) residents fully vaccinated. Among adults (those age 18 and older), there are 8,103,011 (79.7%) with one dose and 6,499,736 (63.9%) fully vaccinated.

In Allegheny County, there are 747,903 — 61.1% of all residents — with at least one dose, while 680,608 (55.6%) are considered fully vaccinated. Among adults, those percentages increase to 75.1% and 68.3%, respectively.

In Westmoreland County, 175,360 — 48.0% of all residents — have at least one dose, with 159,928 (43.8%) fully vaccinated. Among adults, those percentages increase to 58.7% and 53.5%, respectively.