38 PA Counties At 'Substantial Risk' Of COVID-19 Community Spread

PENNSYLVANIA — There are now 38 counties across Pennsylvania that are at a "substantial" level of community spread of coronavirus, according to the latest data released by the Department of Health.

The news comes as many of the state's coronavirus metrics continue to see alarming levels of increase amid the fall surge. The percent positivity rate on tests is up to 6.9 percent from 6.1 percent the week before, and a record number of cases for a single day — 4,711 — was once again set on Wednesday.

RELATED: PA COVID-19 Data: 4,700+ New Cases, 59 Deaths, 2K Hospitalized

"We need all Pennsylvanians to take a stand and answer the call to protect one another," Gov. Wolf said in a statement Tuesday. "We need Pennsylvanians to be united in wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing our hands and avoiding gatherings. It is only by working together that Pennsylvanians can prevent the spread of the virus."

Community spread "substantial" across much of the state

Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Counties are rated either low, moderate or substantial transmission risks.

As recently as a month ago, only four counties fell into that most at-risk substantial level, which includes counties with more than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over a seven day period, or a percent positivity rate above 10 percent over seven days.

The 38 counties which are at the substantial level are spread across Pennsylvania and include many of its most populous counties like Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware (full list below).

Record number of new cases

The state recorded 15,989 new cases over the past week, up from the previous seven-day increase of 13,486. That means there were 2,503 more cases than the previous seven-day period.

The data shows that the fall surge has continued to steadily accelerate. Two weeks ago, the seven-day total stood at 10,127.

The single-day record for new cases has been repeatedly broken in recent days, with daily numbers notably higher than they were at the early height of the pandemic back in the spring.

All told, there have been 243,368 cases statewide. A total of 72 percent of those infected have recovered, according to the state Department of Health.

Hospitalizations are also increasing. There are currently 2,080 people hospitalized in Pennsylvania for the coronavirus; 193 are on a ventilator as of Wednesday.

Percent positivity rises

The percent positivity rate on all tests is often cited by officials as a key barometer for community health, as the metric takes into account the increased number of tests.

This number now stands at 6.9 percent statewide, up from 6.1 percent last week and 5 percent the week before.

The level considered to be concerning is 5 percent. There are now 52 counties that are over that threshold and "bear watching," the Department of Health says, including: Bedford (17.5%), Indiana (14.0%), Armstrong (13.1%), Franklin (12.3%), Lawrence (12.2%), Bradford (12.1%), Wyoming (12.0%), Venango (11.8%), Juniata (9.7%), Huntingdon (9.5%), Mifflin (9.5%), Schuylkill (9.2%), Philadelphia (9.1%), Fulton (8.8%), Elk (8.4%), Lebanon (8.4%), Monroe (8.2%), Butler (8.1%), Blair (8.0%), Luzerne (7.9%), Tioga (7.8%), Berks (7.7%), Lehigh (7.7%), Dauphin (7.6%), Delaware (7.6%), Carbon (7.5%), Erie (7.4%), Washington (7.2%), Columbia (7.1%), Mercer (7.0%), Clarion (6.9%), Jefferson (6.9%), Cameron (6.7%), Westmoreland (6.7%), Lancaster (6.5%), Northampton (6.5%), Perry (6.5%), Bucks (6.2%), Crawford (6.1%), Pike (6.1%), Somerset (6.1%), Adams (5.9%), Northumberland (5.9%), York (5.9%), Clearfield (5.6%), Cambria (5.5%), Centre (5.2%), Cumberland (5.2%), Montgomery (5.2%), Susquehanna (5.2%), Chester (5.1%), and Snyder (5.0%)

The current level of community spread by county

SUBSTANTIAL

• Adams
• Armstrong
• Bedford
• Berks
• Blair
• Bradford
• Bucks
• Butler
• Cambria
• Carbon
• Centre
• Clarion
• Crawford
• Dauphin
• Delaware
• Elk
• Franklin
• Fulton
• Huntingdon
• Indiana
• Jefferson
• Juniata
• Lancaster
• Lawrence
• Lebanon
• Lehigh
• Luzerne
• Mercer
• Mifflin
• Montgomery
• Northampton
• Northumberland
• Philadelphia
• Schuylkill
• Tioga
• Union
• Venango
• Wyoming

MODERATE

• Allegheny
• Beaver
• Chester
• Clearfield
• Clinton
• Columbia
• Cumberland
• Erie
• Fayette
• Greene
• Lackawanna
• Lycoming
• McKean
• Monroe
• Montour
• Perry
• Pike
• Potter
• Snyder
• Somerset
• Susquehanna
• Warren
• Washington
• Wayne
• Westmoreland
• York

LOW

• Cameron
• Forest
• Sullivan