Pennsylvania tops 40,000 total cases of COVID-19, as Centre County adds 4 new cases
Centre County added four new cases Saturday of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, increasing the total number of cases in the county to 81, according to the state Department of Health.
Still, over the past nine days, the county has seen no new cases on six of those days. And there have been just eight new cases in Centre County since April 17.
Statewide, the numbers continue to rise — but the rate of confirmed positive cases has slowed. As of noon Saturday, there are now 40,049 total cases of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, meaning 1,397 cases are new. That marks the 16th straight day that single-day increases have been at or below 10%, after 34 consecutive days of the rate bouncing between 12% and 100%.
“As we see the number of new COVID-19 cases continuously change across the state, that does not mean we can stop practicing social distancing,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Saturday in a written statement. “We must continue to stay home to protect ourselves, our families and our community.”
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday the statewide stay-at-home order will be extended until May 8, but the economy will be gradually reopened once that date hits.
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 800,000 patients have fully recovered worldwide out of about 2.8 million infected. (By comparison, 198,405 have died worldwide as of Saturday morning.)
Locally, every county surrounding Centre County now has at least 11 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. Totals from nearby counties are as follows:
- Blair County: 21 (0 deaths)
- Cambria County: 21 (1 death)
- Clearfield County: 11 (0 deaths)
- Clinton County: 18 (0 deaths)
- Huntingdon County: 22 (0 deaths)
- Juniata County: 77 (0 deaths)
- Mifflin County: 26 (0 deaths)
- Union County: 31 (0 deaths)
In Centre County, here’s the breakdown by ZIP code (those without cases are not listed):
- 16801 (State College): 26
16823 (Bellefonte, Milesburg and Pleasant Gap): 18
16827 (Boalsburg): 9
- 16803 (State College): 8
- 16870 (Port Matilda): 7
16866, 16686, 16844, 16828, 16852, 16822: 1-4 cases each (Specific numbers not available)
The statewide death toll from the virus also rose Saturday, increasing by 45 to 1,537 total. So far, one COVID-19 death has been reported in Centre County — involving an 89-year-old man, according to Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers. (That death was first reported by the state April 17.)
According to the state Department of Health, about 38% of positive cases in the state involve someone aged 25-49, followed by those aged 50-64 (28%) and 65 and older (26%). When it comes to hospitalizations, 20% of those 80 and older who test positive are admitted — followed by those 65-79 (20%), 50-64 (10%), 30-49 (5%) and 0-29 (2%).
According to the state’s hospital preparedness dashboard, no COVID-19 patients (and one non-COVID-19 patient) in the county are on ventilator care. Dr. Nirmal Joshi, chief medical officer for Mount Nittany Health, recently told the CDT that the hospital can currently provide ventilator care for up to 40 patients.
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.
“Please stay at home whenever you can, avoid unnecessary social contact and keep washing your hands,” said Dr. Brian Newcomb, director of the Mount Nittany Medical Center emergency department. “Remember the most vulnerable in our community and how much they’re relying on all of us right now. Practicing social distancing can significantly help to slow the spread of COVID-19. ... We’re all in this together.”
The state updates its county-by-county coronavirus numbers at noon every day.
