More Variants Bring More Numbers
53,249 new cases of COVID-19 were reported last week, an increase of 34% after two weeks of decreasing cases. The statewide COVID-19 total case count now stands at 1,779,151. The commonwealth dropped from 8th to 16th in cases per 100,000 nationally, with New Hampshire, Michigan, and Minnesota now in the top three. While daily case rates are comparable to early December 2020, hospitalizations and deaths remain substantially lower.
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Pennsylvania increased for the fourth week in a row from 3,593 to 4,106, or 14%. 885 patients are in the ICU, an increase compared to the previous week’s 816. Total deaths in Pennsylvania have reached 33,902, with 619 new deaths reported this week, an increase compared to the previous week.
Pennsylvania’s statewide percent-positivity rate increased for the fifth week in a row from 12.1% to 15.3%. No county has a rate less than 5% (compared to one last week); seven counties have rates of 5% to less than 10% (compared to six last week); 31 counties have rates of 10% to less than 20% (compared to 45 last week); 25 counties have a rate of at least 20% but less than 30% (compared to 15 last week); four counties have a rate higher than 30% (compared to none last week).Click here for more county-specific information.
