Pennsylvania reports 2,510 new covid-19 cases, 28 deaths

Pennsylvania on Saturday reported 2,510 new coronavirus cases, the fifth consecutive day and eighth day of the month that the state has posted more than 2,000 cases.

The state Department of Health reported 28 new deaths attributed to the coronavirus after posting 22 Friday. The week’s high was 44 on Thursday.

The total number of covid-19 deaths in Pennsylvania is 8,812.

The new data bring the total cases to 208,027. Officials said 9,864 are considered probable cases.

The state said there were 257,367 people tested from Sunday to Friday with 14,938 positive cases — for a 5.8% positivity rate.

Out of the new cases, 174 — or 6.9% — are from Allegheny County.

Officials have noted an increase in new cases from the 19- to 24-year-old age group.

For example, in Southwestern Pennsylvania that age group only made up 5% of the new cases in April, while accounting for 12% of the cases through the month of October.

“We know that congregation, especially in college and university settings, yields increased case counts,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine. “The mitigation efforts in place now are essential to flattening the curve and saving lives.”

She urges people to continue to exercise caution when in public — mainly by maintaining social distance and wearing masks.

About 2.31 million people in Pennsylvania have tested negative for the virus; in total, just over than 2.52 million people have been tested for the virus in the state.

The positivity rate is 8.25%.

As of Saturday, 76% of people who tested positive have recovered, state officials said.

According to the Health Department, the most severe cases are seen in patients over the age of 65. This group accounts for the largest age demographic for both hospitalizations and deaths.

In nursing and personal care homes, there have been 26,149 cases in residents and 5,653 in employees.

There have been 5,807 deaths at nursing and personal care homes. These deaths account for nearly 66% of the state’s total. About 1,070 nursing facilities have been affected by the virus.

Of the total, 12,448 coronavirus cases stem from health care workers.