'Subtle Flattening Of Curve' Seen In PA, Health Officials Say

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania reported another 70 deaths related to the new coronavirus Wednesday. It followed the state's largest single-day death count, which was reported Tuesday when 78 virus-related fatalities were confirmed. Wednesday's new deaths bring the statewide total to 310.

But while the number of cases continues to rise, the rate at which they're rising is slightly decreasing, state health officials said.

"We have seen a subtle flattening of the curve, which is good news," Health Secretary Rachel Levine said. She stressed Pennsylvanians "can not become complacent" and must continue social distancing efforts.

Once again, Philadelphia had the bulk of the deaths reported Tuesday, with 29 occurring in the city in the last 24 hours, data shows. The city has reported 59 deaths over the past two days.

Pennsylvania's coronavirus death toll has more than quadrupled since April 1, data shows. On April 1, the state reported 74 total deaths.

Also Wednesday, state health officials confirmed another 1,680 positive COVID-19 cases. The total number of cases in Pennsylvania stands at 16,239 as of Wednesday.

About 11 percent of the cases have required hospitalization. Approximately 40 percent of Pennsylvania's ICU beds remain available and 70 percent of the state's ventilators are still available.

The state on Wednesday launched a new hospital preparedness dashboard, which provides county-level information about how many beds and ventilators are available. The dashboard is here.

Here are the total deaths by county as of Wednesday, according to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health:

• Allegheny: 10
• Beaver: 13
• Berks: 7
• Bucks: 22
• Butler: 2
• Cambria: 1
• Carbon: 1
• Chester: 6
• Columbia: 1
• Cumberland: 2
• Dauphin: 2
• Delaware: 23
• Fayette: 1
• Lackawanna: 10
• Lancaster: 16
• Lawrence: 2
• Lehigh: 11
• Luzerne: 11
• Monroe: 17
• Montgomery: 37
• Northampton: 14
• Perry: 1
• Philadelphia: 87
• Pike: 6
• Snyder: 1
• Westmoreland: 1
• York: 2

In response to the public health crisis, Gov. Tom Wolf has ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania close their physical locations. Enforcement is underway.

A statewide stay-at-home order has been in place across Pennsylvania since April 1. School and non-essential business closures are currently "indefinite."

>>>Full coverage of coronavirus in Pennsylvania here.