Coronavirus Rips Through Pennsylvania in Record Numbers Day Before Election

Pennsylvania marks the 28th consecutive day more than 1,000 new cases have been reported.

The fall resurgence of COVID-19 is in full swing in Pennsylvania, as the daily number of new positive cases reaches the highest level since the start of the pandemic.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported a two-day total of 3,969 new coronavirus cases Monday, bringing the statewide total to 211,996. It is the 28th consecutive day more than 1,000 new cases have been reported.

Eleven people with COVID-19 died over the two-day span, bringing the state’s total to 8,823.

With less than 24 hours until Election Day, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine encouraged voters to prepare a COVID kit and take it with them to the polls if voting in-person. The kit, she said, should include a mask, a pen (blue or black), and hand sanitizer. 

The state continues to ask all Pennsylvanians to download the COVID Alert PA app on their phones.

COVID is increasing in all regions of Pennsylvania, Levine said Monday. The percentage of positive tests has risen to 6.1% statewide, up from 5% last week. In addition, 40 counties have a positive rate of 5% or higher. By contrast, in early October, only 11 counties had a positive rate of 5% or more.

Several counties have rates above 10%. They include Bradford (12.4%), Armstrong (11.9%), Schuylkill (11.1%), Franklin (10.3%). Those counties represent all different parts of the state, the north central, western, southeastern and south central regions respectively.

The number of COVID-related hospitalizations also continues to rise. Statewide, 1,267 patients were hospitalized. In late September, that number was a little more than 400. The number is still far below the spring high of 3,000 a day in April.

The state also provides a weekly update of the level of coronavirus transmission in each county (low, moderate and substantial). Gov. Wolf has encouraged schools to use the level of transmission as a guide for holding in-person classes or using remote learning. 

The state recommends schools in counties with substantial levels of transmission do remote learning. In counties with moderate or low levels, the state suggests schools either have in-person classes or a hybrid mix of face-to-face and remote instruction.

Twenty-six counties currently have substantial levels of transmission, 36 are in the moderate category and only 5 have low levels of transmission.

• Substantial: Armstrong, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Cambria, Center, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mifflin, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Tioga, Venango, Westmoreland, Wyoming, and York.
• Moderate: Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Juniata, Lancaster, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Potter, Snyder, Somerset, Susquehanna, Union, and Washington.
• Low: Cameron, Forest, Sullivan, Warren, and Wayne.