Pennsylvania tops 16,000 total cases of COVID-19, as Centre County adds 2 more confirmed cases
Centre County gained two new cases Wednesday of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, increasing the total number of cases in the county to 57, according to the state Department of Health.
There are now 16,239 total cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania as of noon Wednesday, meaning 1,680 cases are new. With the exponential growth of the pandemic, that is now the state’s largest single-day increase as of yet. (There were 1,579 new cases Tuesday and 1,470 Monday.)
The novel coronavirus first appeared in the county March 20 and first appeared in the state March 6.
“Now more than ever, as we continue to see COVID-19 cases and deaths rise in Pennsylvania, we need Pennsylvanians to take action,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Wednesday in a written statement. “Those actions should be to stay calm, stay home and stay safe. If you must go out, please limit it to as few trips as possible and wear a mask to protect not only yourself, but other people as well. We need all Pennsylvanians to heed these efforts to protect our vulnerable Pennsylvanians, and our health care workers and front line responders.”
It is unknown how many Pennsylvanians, or Centre County residents, have recovered from the coronavirus because the state Department of Health doesn’t receive reports when patients are discharged. However, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, more than 300,000 patients have fully recovered worldwide out of the nearly 1.5 million infected. (By comparison, 83,471 have died worldwide as of noon Wednesday.)
Locally, every county surrounding Centre County now has at least several confirmed cases of the coronavirus — Clinton County saw its first case Friday — and every one of the state’s 67 counties now has at least one confirmed case. Totals from nearby counties are as follows:
- Blair County: 6
- Cambria County: 9
- Clearfield County: 7
- Clinton County: 3
- Huntingdon County: 6
- Juniata County: 18
The statewide death toll from the virus also rose Wednesday, increasing by 70 to now 310 total. However, no COVID-19 deaths have been reported in Centre County.
According to the state Department of Health, about 41% of positive cases in the state involve someone aged 25-49, followed by those aged 50-64 (29%) and 65 and older (20%). When it comes to hospitalizations, those 65 and older make up 51% of admissions, followed by those aged 50-64 (29%) and those aged 25-49 (19%).
Anyone who believes they came into contact with someone who might have the coronavirus is advised to monitor their health and call their primary care provider if they develop 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 after exposure.
Those who believe they might be sick are encouraged to stay at home except to get medical care. Residents are also urged to call their health care provider before visiting. And those who do venture outside are urged to wear masks.
“Practicing social distancing can significantly help to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Mount Nittany Medical Center Emergency Department Director Brian Newcomb said in recent statement. “Physicians, nurses and our entire medical community are urging all people to stay at home. We are honored to serve and protect our community, but we need your help.”
The state updates its county-by-county coronavirus numbers at noon every day.
