Pennsylvania now has nearly 20,000 COVID-19 cases, with Centre County adding 2 new cases
Two new cases of the coronavirus were reported Friday in Centre County by the state Department of Health, raising the total number of cases in the county to 61.
There are 19,979 cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania as of noon Friday, an increase of 1,751 since noon Thursday.
The coronavirus first appeared in the state March 6; Centre County reported its first case March 20; and all 67 of the state’s counties reported a case by April 7.
“Now more than ever, as we continue to see COVID-19 cases and deaths rise in Pennsylvania, we need Pennsylvanians to take action,” state Health Secretary Rachel Levine said in a statement. “Those actions should be to stay calm, stay home and stay safe.”
The death toll also rose Friday, increasing by 78 to 416. No COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Centre County.
It is unknown how many Pennsylvanians have recovered from the coronavirus. The state Department of Health is not notified when patients are discharged.
About 41% of positive cases statewide involve someone aged 25-49, followed by those aged 50-64 (29%) and 65 and older (21%), the DOH reported.
About 51% of inpatients hospitalized due to the coronavirus are 65 and older, the DOH reported.
According to a hospital preparedness dashboard from the DOH, Centre County has five ventilators in use — two in use for COVID-19 patients. Dr. Nirmal Joshi, chief medical officer for Mount Nittany Health, told the CDT Thursday that the hospital can currently provide ventilator care for up to 40 patients — “and we are awaiting shipment of additional ventilators.”
Those who may have come in contact with someone who might have COVID-19 is advised to monitor their health and contact their health care provider immediately if they have symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. Symptoms can appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days, according to the CDC.