COVID deaths, cases in PA continue downward slide. These 2 counties are at medium level

Jackie Starkey
·3 min read
2

New cases of COVID-19 and deaths from the virus reported to Pennsylvania’s Department of Health continue to decline.

For the latest week for which data is available, March 29 to April 4, the state’s health department reports 4,061 cases. That’s down from 4,735 cases the week prior and 8,509 about a month ago.

The commonwealth continues to mirror nationwide COVID trends. For the week ending April 5, almost 121,000 cases were reported across the U.S., down from the most recent spike this winter, when 5.5 million were reported for the week ending Jan. 19. The most recent case count does not include data from Iowa, which has ended mandatory reporting as of April 1.

In a study publicized this week, University of Miami researchers report two cases of COVID-19 passing from pregnant individuals to the fetus they carried, resulting in brain damage to the infant.

Deaths in Pennsylvania from COVID-19 — a lagging indicator — have also slowed in recent weeks. For the latest reporting period, 67 people died from the virus, compared to 90 the week before and 113 at the end of February.

Through April 4, Pennsylvania has recorded 50,780 deaths, part of the greater nearly 1.13 million Americans who have succumb to the virus. For the week ending April 5, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 1,773 U.S. COVID deaths.

Like last week, all Pennsylvania metrics for COVID hospitalizations also declined. Five hundred and sixty-six individuals are hospitalized for treatment in the commonwealth, with 70 in adult intensive care units and 35 on ventilators as of April 5.

COVID-19 community levels in Pennsylvania

The CDC’s Thursday update shows fewer Pennsylvania counties at elevated COVID-19 community levels. Just two counties, Crawford and Mercer, are at medium, while the remaining 65 counties are at low.

This map of Pennsylvania from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows COVID-19 community levels by county as of April 7, 2023. Crawford and Mercer counties are at medium, or yellow, while the rest are at low, or green.
This map of Pennsylvania from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows COVID-19 community levels by county as of April 7, 2023. Crawford and Mercer counties are at medium, or yellow, while the rest are at low, or green.

Last week, Elk and Cameron counties were also at medium, but have returned to low as of Thursday.

The federal agency updates the metric each week based on new cases and hospitalizations per 100,000 individuals and the average percentage of COVID-occupied staffed hospital beds.

Under reduced masking guidance, the CDC says those at greater risk for severe illness should mask in public in counties at medium. At high, masks are recommended for all individuals.

COVID-19 in Centre County

With 58 cases reported in the latest week, according to the CDC, Centre County remains at a low community level, as it has for several weeks.

The weekly case rate is 35.72 per 100,000 people, and the positivity rate is below 5%.

Mount Nittany Health reports five COVID patients as of Thursday. They range in age from 27 to 90, and one is in the ICU.

Those in Centre County and across the commonwealth can do their part in protecting the community by staying up to date with their COVID-19 vaccine. If you last received a shot before September 2022, the CDC says you are due for a booster. Visit vaccines.gov to find a free shot near you.