The number of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania has increased each day for the past 16 days, and on Thursday, one state official was asked if all the mitigation efforts are working.
“The efforts are working,” said Dr. Rachel Levine, secretary of health for the state. She referred to Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, the federal top health experts, both of whom have said social distancing is making a difference across the nation.
“We’re not out of the woods by any means,” Levine said. However, she said, “the curve has changed.”
When the virus started spreading, it was increasing exponentially each day. Efforts to “flatten the curve” have included the controversial closing of non-essential businesses and of schools, and orders for state residents to stay at home.
“It has gone to a somewhat flatter curve,” Levine said. Cases are increasing, but not by as large a margin as they had been. “We’re still seeing an increase in numbers of cases. We need to maintain our vigilance.”
And what about when the pandemic is over? How do state officials envision a return to normal?
“As Dr. Fauci has said, the virus determines the time line,” Levine said. “There will be a time when we can start to relax.
“It will not be ‘one grand day’ in Pennsylvania,” she clarified. “It will have to go in a very slow and progressive fashion.”
It may be that sections of the state will have relaxed regulations before others, and will be carefully monitored to watch for further outbreaks.
“We are making plans about how that might happen in the future,” she added.
For now, the health department is working to ensure county emergency management agencies can get the information they need to track the virus in each county. Levine said the department will be providing specific information about cases to the EMA offices “by the end of the week.”
Along with her daily reminders to wash hands, wear masks and stay home, Levine had a message for state residents: “We can and we will recover together.”
On Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed that there were 1,989 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 18,228. All 67 counties in Pennsylvania now have cases of COVID-19. The department also reported 29 new deaths among positive cases, bringing the statewide total to 338. All people are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.
There are 87,374 patients who have tested negative to date. Of the patients who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows:
Less than 1% are aged 0-4;
Nearly 1% are aged 5-12;
1% are aged 13-18;
Nearly 7% are aged 19-24;
41% are aged 25-49;
Nearly 29% are aged 50-64; and
Nearly 21% are aged 65 or older.
Most of the patients hospitalized are aged 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. There have been no pediatric deaths to date.
All non-life-sustaining businesses are ordered to be closed and schools are closed statewide indefinitely. Currently the entire state is under a stay-at-home order.
