Pennsylvania adds 735 new coronavirus cases, 31 deaths

The Pennsylvania Department of Health added 735 coronavirus cases and 31 deaths on Tuesday.

The counts come a day after the state reported its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in more than a month and no deaths Monday.

Those figures were slightly skewed because data from Philadelphia County — often one of the counties with the most new cases — was not available. The county saw an additional 208 cases and 10 deaths added to its count (a two-day total for Aug. 17-18).

On Tuesday, Allegheny County saw its lowest number of cases since June with a report of 45 cases.

After climbing steadily in late June and July, the number of new coronavirus cases has dropped in August. The state has averaged 757 new cases a day over the past seven days.

The 31 deaths added Tuesday bring the total to 7,499 people who have died from covid-19 in Pennsylvania.

Of the 31 newly reported deaths, 26 were from August, one was from July, one was from May, two were from April and one was from March.

The state currently lists 274 deaths in Allegheny County, while the county’s own health department lists 291 deaths, a discrepancy that’s been credited to different reporting methods between the county and the state.

The state has administered 162,293 tests with 5,992 positive cases within the past seven days from Aug. 11-17.

There are 548 people currently hospitalized for covid-19 in Pennsylvania, according to the state’s covid-19 dashboard — 94 of them are on ventilators.

In all, Pennsylvania has seen 125,579 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began in March.

Nursing and personal care homes have been struck hardest by the coronavirus. The state health department said there are 20,444 resident cases of covid-19, and 4,261 cases among employees, for a total of 24,705 at 899 distinct facilities in 63 counties.

The state said 5,064 deaths — one more than Saturday — have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.

In the state 8,997 coronavirus cases stem from health care workers.

On Tuesday morning Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine spoke about the state’s efforts to launch a Covid Alert PA contact tracing app to help slow the spread of the virus. The state has added staff and is planning the roll-out of the app in the effort.

Levine also said her greatest concern about the return to school is spread of covid-19. “It is very clear that young people can spread this virus. We want to protect against … outbreaks.”

The state continues to remind people that wearing a mask is required in all businesses and whenever leaving home.