New Coronavirus Cases Ticking Up Slightly In Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, PA — New coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania are ticking up slightly, with 600 additional positive cases of COVID-19 reported on Friday. Pennsylvania now has a total of 84,370 confirmed cases and 6,579 deaths.

In nursing and personal care homes, 17,527 residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Out of the state's total deaths, 4,518 have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities.

The developments come as all but one county in the state have been moved to the green phase of coronavirus mitigation. Southeastern Pennsylvania counties surrounding Philadelphia, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery, moved to green Friday.

Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that Lebanon County — the last in yellow — is slated to move to the green phase of reopening on July 3.

New cases dipped significantly in mid-June, with case counts in the 300s for several days earlier this month. But Pennsylvania has been on an upward trajectory over the past week.

Here are the case counts from the past three days:

• June 24: 495
• June 25: 579
• June 26: 600

Compared to the low in the middle of the month:

• June 15: 336
• June 16: 323
• June 17: 362

In Philadelphia, Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said daily case counts are going back up after declining in the recent weeks. With more cases, Farley said activities planned to resume July 3 in the city may not resume then due to target figures not being met.

"The first wave ending and a second wave is beginning," Farley said. "We all need to be concerned. And to minimize our health risks in this new wave, everyone needs to take safety guidelines seriously, especially the wearing of masks."

More than 36,000 new infections were reported by state health departments on Wednesday, according to The Washington Post, surpassing the previous single-day record of 34,203 set on April 25.

Texas, Florida and California led the way, with all three states reporting more than 5,000 new cases apiece. Cases are also climbing rapidly among young adults in a number of states where bars, stores and restaurants have reopened.

“Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach. However, the virus has not gone away. Each of us has a responsibility to continue to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently," Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said in a news release.

She also stressed the importance of wearing a mask. "Consistent mask wearing could have lasting benefits as a COVID-19 surge is possible this fall," the news release said.